Arsenal: Unai Emery running out of time to solve shambles

Arsenal were utterly shambolic in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Watford. Unai Emery is running out of time to fix this mess, and the signs are not positive.

Where do you even start to describe a performance like that? Arsenal fans have seen some bad performances over the last few months, but the 2-2 draw to Watford might well be the worst in a long, long list. It was utterly shambolic.

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Let’s put it into context just how bad the Gunners were. Bottom of the table Watford were better than from the 1st minute to the 94th. Bottom of the table Watford had more than 30 shots on goal. Bottom of the table Watford played their visitors off the park.

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Time and time and time again, the Gunners tried to build from the back, and time and time and time again, they played themselves into trouble. Ainsley Maitland-Niles was appalling on the right, and not for the first time, Matteo Guendouzi may as well have been playing for Watford the number of times he gave possession away, and both centre-backs were extremely poor as well. Making one or two mistakes is forgivable, but not learning from them is absolutely criminal.

The centre-backs were especially worrying. Sokratis has gone backwards this season and is a mistake waiting to happen. David Luiz, meanwhile, was brought in to add experience to the defence but has now given away two penalties in three games. Since the beginning of last season, Arsenal have committed 14 individual errors that have led directly to goals and conceded 10 penalties. Both are Premier League-leading figures.

All of this brings me onto Unai Emery. With every game I see, I am becoming increasingly convinced that he is not the man to lead the club forward.

Enacting change is his job, and it is clear that the mistakes of last season and even before that are not being learned from. That is the most damning criticism of any coach.

He is also beginning to make some curious substitutions. Why withdraw your best central midfielder in Dani Ceballos? Why not switch to a 4-3-3 earlier and provide better balance for the time? Why not bring off Maitland-Niles or Granit Xhaka, both of which were shattered and floundering under the pressure? At least last season Emery made some smart tactical changes midway through matches to flip performances on their head.

Arsenal are not learning from their mistakes. They are making curious decisions. Their errors are increasing and Emery lacks identity and clear direction. This was a mess, and time is running out to fix it.