Arsenal: Unai Emery’s approach raises questions about his future

Arsenal put in a meek performance against Watford. It raises questions about the suitability of the manager chosen to replace Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery.

Assessing Unai Emery’s time as Arsenal manager has been difficult up until this point but Sunday’s performance at Watford has given serious cause for concern. His first season at the club wasn’t entirely convincing and ended in failure when the club missed out on qualification for the Champions League.

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But following a closer look at the resources at his disposal, it was fair that the club gave him another season — and another transfer window — in which he could mould the squad. Even during the first four games of this season, injuries and early-season rustiness, combined with a tough set of fixtures, can be used to explain away a lack of cohesion.

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But against Watford, the style in which Arsenal and Emery approached the game, and the second half in particular, should cause the hierarchy to take note. Playing against a side that were placed bottom of the table, the Gunners had less possession, completed fewer dribbles, fewer passes and had worse pass accuracy. They also managed seven shots to Watford’s 31.

While they lost their lead as the result of two poor pieces of play from two experienced defenders, something Emery shouldn’t be held responsible for, it was his tactics and approach that allowed Watford to exert such a level of dominance throughout the match, which in turn, led to the individual errors.

There is a good number of midfielders in the squad, but Emery continues to change his line-up — and his tactics — week after week. As a result, his team looks poorly balanced and the players seem unclear on their roles in build-up play.

Playing out from the back is admirable, but when a player receives the ball, they don’t have the options to make it work and Watford could easily have had three goals from botched attempts.

Neither Sokratis nor Sead Kolasinac look comfortable on the ball around their own box, while too often Matteo Guendouzi and Granit Xhaka receive the ball without the players around them creating space so they can move it on quickly. Even in the first half, when Arsenal managed to build a 2-0 lead, there was no dominance. Watford looked constantly dangerous on the break and Emery’s side struggled to sustain attacks.

Rightly, Emery will come in for a lot of criticism after this performance and he needs to respond over the coming weeks if he is to keep his job. Arsenal have a run of presentable fixtures during which it is vital they begin to accumulate points as they push for a top-four spot.

But if they play in the similarly timid and scared way that they did against Watford, they could be turned over by the likes of Aston Villa and Sheffield United and Emery could be on his way out of the club.