Arsenal Vs Newcastle United: Unai Emery’s plan is working

Arsenal put in one of their most cohesive, collective performances of the season in Monday night’s 2-0 win over Newcastle United. That is because Unai Emery’s plan is working.

One of the key issues with the latter Arsene Wenger years at Arsenal was the lack of clear and detailed tactical planning and instruction. Wenger relied on the attacking ingenuity of his players to break down opposing defences. When he had Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, such freedom was precisely the kind of approach that was required. But with lesser, more restricted players, a little direction is required.

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Whoever was to succeed Wenger at the Emirates, therefore, had a clear manifesto: to implement a style and structure to the play. In essence, the Gunners needed a plan.

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Obviously, that takes time. No good plan can be properly understood and executed overnight. But as we enter the final stages of Unai Emery’s first season at the club, we are beginning to see the effects of a clear and structured plan in place. Monday night’s 2-0 win over Newcastle United might be the best representation of Emery’s ideas all season. Indeed, after the match, Emery was very happy with the performance of his players:

"“We played very consistent over 90 minutes. We didn’t concede any chances. We created and dominated the match. We are happy.”"

In his press conference, Emery then said:

"“Each match is giving us a lot of information for the system and for the players, but we can change the system and the players. Today we showed we can also take a good performance.”"

What was so pleasing about the Newcastle display was the cohesiveness of it. In possession, Arsenal fizzed the ball with pace and precision. There was a zip on almost every pass, dictating a quicker tempo to break down a disciplined Newcastle defence. There were also repeated patterns of play, both to break free of the Newcastle press in defensive areas and to create chances in the final third.

Out of possession, there was a plan. The pressing was timely and connected, there was a smart aggressiveness of the wide centre-halves to make ball recoveries and stifle Newcastle counter-attacks, Matteo Guendouzi, Sead Kolasinac and Ainsley Maitland-Niles were smart in the positions they took up, rotating who pushed forward at different times.

This was a team playing to a plan. And it was a plan that was a very successful one. Arsenal may have only won by two goals, not scoring the second until the 83rd minute, but this was one of the best displays of the season, especially in regards to their combination play in and out of possession.

Unai Emery’s plan is working. It is taking time to unfold, but it is working. Long may it continue.