Arsenal: Third in the league, but Emery still playing the wrong side

Although on paper, it looks like Arsenal have had a very promising start to the season; there is still so much to improve—and that starts with Unai Emery’s team selection.

Somehow after game week eight, Arsenal sits third in the Premier league only one point behind the champions Manchester City. They are ahead of London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham, and six points clear of twelfth place Manchester United. And they’ve only lost one game this season— against 17 league wins in a row Liverpool.

Yet I feel we could be doing so much better.

Arsenal has won three from three outside Premier League this season with two comfortable victories in the Europa League and a thrashing against Nottingham Forrest in the EFL cup. And that’s my point! If this ‘second-string’ side has put in three flawless performances, why is it our ‘second-string’ side?

In three matches this team has scored twelve goals without conceding any! Yes, these wins have been against a more straightforward opposition. And yes, Unai Emery has been rewarding some players with game time in the league from good performances outside it such as Bukayo Saka and Calum Chambers. But not enough, unfortunately. Some players can’t seem to get a look-in.

I had the pleasure to go up to The Emirates to watch the match versus Standard Liege last Thursday, but what I found ironic was that I felt more excited to watch this team play than seeing the first team regulars in the league. And the overall feeling throughout this match was, why can’t we give this team a chance in the league?

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In the match against Standard Liege, Unai Emery started Lucas Torreira in defensive midfield, and surprise surprise, we kept a clean sheet! Torreira gave the defence protection, which Xhaka has often been unable to offer. After he signed for us last summer, the Uruguayan was our best player for parts of that season. But this year he can’t get near the first team, and when he has been in the side, he’s been playing in an unnatural attacking role.

Another player who should be part of the first team is Joe Willock. The Englishmen had an impressive start of the season as a starter for the opening three games. The box-to-box midfielder reminds me of Aaron Ramsey; he’s got relentless energy and is always a danger in the opposition’s box, just what we’ve been missing since Ramsey’s departure. Willock has already scored three goals this season and has always put a shift in at defence.

You could argue, even players like Shkodran Mustafi and Emi Martinez deserve a chance in the league, as they too have been faultless this season.

I have no problem with Emery playing what he thinks is the best team. However, the players not included in that team must know the way back into the league side. If not, it will affect the whole squad. With that said, I’m cautiously optimistic looking forward to the rest of the season as some players have really started to pick up good form.

The international break offers time for players like Lacazette, Tierney and Holding to complete their recovery and get back to match fitness. But my point remains, players who have been performing well outside the Premier League, should be playing in the Premier League.