Arsenal: Fighting Unai Emery feeling the pressure

Unai Emery was in a ferocious, fervent, fighting mood in his press conference on Wednesday afternoon. The Arsenal head coach might just be feeling the pressure.

It would be fair to say that Unai Emery is not doing the best job in the world. In his second season at the helm, the Arsenal head coach was meant to make serious steps in an effort to bring the club out of the Arsene Wenger era. But, if anything, that is the opposite of what is actually happening.

Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — The Unai Emery One

Where there was a hope for progress and development, there is regression and reduction; where there was an expectation for modernisation and catching up with the rest of the league, there has been a slipping back to the old way; where there was belief in the process and trust in the system, there has since been diminishing returns and wavering faith.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

While there were valid reasons for Emery’s spluttering first term, one that at least offered periods of positive form and performances to shed an encouraging light on future prospects, those same excuses do not fly this time around. The expectations have risen, and Emery is yet to prove that he can meet them.

Criticism of his management is growing with every lacklustre performance and worrying result, the latest of which a deplorable 1-0 loss to Sheffield United. And in his press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Emery was asked about how he feels regarding this increasingly vociferous and doubtful response from the fans:

"“In my career, it’s normal to have in different [sic] and difficult moments criticism for our work and my job. We are in one point of view. The supporters’ opinion, we need to accept that <…> The most important is the club and team. Our objective is clear on where we want to get. We are at the beginning. Really I am very confident in the players, in our job, in our work, in the club strategy, in every player and in our way with our job.”"

Throughout the press conference, Emery was reportedly impassioned in his responses to questions. He spoke for four minutes in an answer to one particular question. He was feisty, fervent, ferocious, even. He might well have been fighting for his job.

For the majority of his time in north London, Emery has handled the media with a calm, composed manner, one that welcomes questioning and answers it with insightful, respectful responses. But this time, he was in defence, of his team, the performances of his players, and his management.

This was the first sign that he is beginning to feel the pressure of the job, that the ever-growing criticism of his impact at the club is starting to take effect on his mental state. Maybe something has been said behind closed doors. Maybe Emery is seeing what the rest of us can on the pitch and is beginning to doubt his ability to make changes. Maybe it is just the stresses of the job.

Whatever it is, the pressure is mounting on Emery. And he might just be starting to crack.