Pain in the Arsenal Podcast show notes: Dead man walking

In Episode 9 of Season 3 of the Pain in the Arsenal podcast, Andrew and Will discussed the Gunners’ defeat to Sheffield United and the fate of Unai Emery, who increasingly looks like a dead man walking.

Where to begin? Yet again, in Monday night’s 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United, Arsenal were meek, aimless, static, slow, lazy and timid. The players are not blameless, but there are clearly issues that far outreach their influence.

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

The lack of attacking cohesion. The inability to bypass the press and move the ball quickly. The over-reliance upon Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette. The fact that desperation is unsustainable. They were clear for all to see on Monday night.

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Not only were Arsenal passive, but Unai Emery’s tactical changes — these were something which he was applauded for last season — were bewildering. Granit Xhaka should not have been on the pitch to start with, but when you are chasing a game, you need a midfielder (Joe Willock) who is willing to run past the strikers. No one had any issue with Dani Ceballos coming on, but Willock was the wrong player to remove, regardless of how little he was influencing the game.

Lacazette needed to make an entrance, but to then deploy Bukayo Saka as a number 10, as well as diminishing Aubameyang’s impact on the game, was maddening. Saka has more experience playing at left-back than he does behind the striker. Nicolas Pépé should have scored in the first half, but he was bright and the team’s shape went to pieces once he was removed from the field. Sead Kolasinac should have been the one to make way.

Meanwhile, in defence, Héctor Bellerín, Kieran Tierney and Rob Holding cannot return soon enough. Many fans would have waited until the aforementioned trio had returned before making any final decision on Emery, but most have lost their patience. In truth, many lost their patience long ago.

Saka deserves to keep his spot in the starting eleven, as does Pépé. Although he was unable to produce a moment of magic at Bramall Lane, Lacazette provided Arsenal with a clear focal point, something which Aubameyang simply cannot do. Mesut Özil, meanwhile, does not have a long-term future at the club, but he simply must be included in matchday squads whilst he remains on the books. His creativity from off the bench would have been most useful on Monday night.

Arsenal squandered two glorious opportunities to qualify for the Champions League last season. They cannot afford to do so again. Considering the plight of their rivals, they will not get a better chance. Change must come. Raul Sanllehi was ruthless in his summer dealings and some fans will be hoping that he is equally as ruthless with the apathetic head coach.

The Gunners return to the Emirates Stadium for their next two fixtures. They host Vitória S.C. in the Europa League on Thursday before welcoming Crystal Palace on Sunday. Hostile and vociferous atmospheres undoubtedly await.

Unai Emery looks like a dead man walking. Change now is too hasty, but the pressure is mounting.