Arsenal Vs Chelsea: Judgement Day for Unai Emery

The Europa League final is looming. With Arsenal’s entire season on the line in a measly 90 minutes, it is Judgement Day for one Unai Emery.

‘Should I stay, or should I go? If I go, there will be trouble. And if I stay it will be double.’

Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — Death, Decay, Despair

Joe Strummer and Mick Jones said it best, although they probably didn’t have Unai Emery in their thoughts at the time. But it is well said for a couple of punks. After a dreadful anticlimactic finish to the season, it is hard to conjure up some spiritual excitement for their upcoming Europa League final against Chelsea. And yet, funnily enough, the heart starts to beat a little faster as Wednesday’s match approaches.

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If the jury was still out on Emery before the four-game slide that resulted in Arsenal missing out, yet again, on the top four Champions League positions, then judgement day is certainly upon the beleaguered manager on Wednesday.

After letting Chelsea coast by them down the stretch in the league, the Gunners now face a team with no undue pressure in what is an opportunity to win a European trophy, one that has eluded the club for what seems like forever, or at least 1994.

Ending up comfortably in third place in the league, a Champions League spot securely sewn up, Chelsea giddily now look forward to adding to their European hardware having won both the Europa and Champions League trophy in recent years, while Emery and the lads will feel the weight of every Arsenal fan glaring down upon them, with gritting teeth and fingers clenched, their hearts embellishing their sleeves.

If only Emery had pencilled in a stronger starting XI against Crystal Palace or eeked out a win against Brighton and Hove Albion, or Leicester, or Wolves. I mean seriously, Brighton? Had Arsenal garnered three more measly points from those four games there would be no pressure on Wednesday and fans could sit back and relax and enjoy the game. And to top it off Tottenham would have ended up in fifth!

However, it is the time of the final judgement of Emery’s first season: win, and he’s a hero, the greatest Europa League manager ever to have walked on grass; lose, and, well, we could be asking ‘who’s next?’

Amidst the growing optimism and lingering pessimism, a ghost from the past, Arsene Wenger, peers down upon the battle of Baku as the ‘Wenger Out’ followers scowl and cower at the possibility of defeat while the ‘Wenger In’ supporters revel in anticipation and vindication.

Judgement day, then, is upon Unai Emery. So ya gotta let me know, should he stay or should he go?