Arsenal: You can only make the same mistakes so many times

Arsenal will look to rectify their mistakes against Crystal Palace, but Unai Emery has to know that you can only make the same mistake so many times. No matter what.

Any time a new manager takes over a club, you have to give them time to settle. You just have to. Unless you’re one of the quick-snap clubs out there that demands immediate satisfaction which, despite what fans might think they want, Arsenal are not. Arsenal are a team building for longevity.

That said, in order for that longevity to be a thing, there have to be clear signs of improvement in the early going, because despite the patience that this club is going to have, it doesn’t last forever.

Unai Emery was given three years. Well, he was given three years unless the second year was significantly unimpressive, which this year is unfortunately shaping up to be in the early going. But let’s be honest, the biggest disappointment I think I’ve had this season was seeing the same team stuck out there against Sheffield United with such better options on the bench.

That’s a mistake that Unai Emery keeps making. Last year he changed so much so often and this year, he barely changes anything at all.

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Which makes me think that this current set-up is the set-up that Unai Emery sees actual hope in, and that is what I find to be the most disturbing thing of all of this. Because there are so many mistakes in that starting XI, and an inability to change things up and see those mistakes is, in itself a mistake.

Individual mistakes by players are one thing. But the thing with a player is, if you keep making the same mistakes, you’ll get benched. Simple enough.

For a manager, there is no bench. You simply cannot keep making the same mistakes. You’ll get canned.

Crystal Palace is up next, and if Unai Emery runs the same clowns out there, the same defense that has never been effective, the same midfield that can’t figure itself out, the same attack that can’t create consistent chances, then maybe Unai Emery was the mistake. And unlike Emery, Arsenal are not going to keep making the same mistake for long.

I still believe in Unai Emery. I hate that it’s taken him this long to figure it out, but against Crystal Palace, he needs to show that he has figured it out.