SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 21: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal inspects the pitch ahead of the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Arsenal FC at Bramall Lane on October 21, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Arsenal Vs Sheffield United: 5 things we learned – Unai Emery out?
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 21: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal sits on an advertising board on the sideline during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Arsenal FC at Bramall Lane on October 21, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Arsenal travelled to Bramall Lane on Monday to play Sheffield United following the international break. Here are five things we learned from the 1-0 loss.
For those who did not endure the displeasure of watching Arsenal’s harrowing 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United on Monday night, this performance was like almost every other performance this season: lacklustre, sluggish, dull, aimless and without a clear plan. The only difference was there was no Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang inspiration to rescue a result. This had been coming and Arsenal only have themselves to blame.
Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — The Unai Emery One
Here are five things we learned from Monday’s 1-0 disaster.
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 21: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal inspects the pitch ahead of the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Arsenal FC at Bramall Lane on October 21, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
5. When will it change?
I am not sure what needs to change. It might be the players, maybe the manager, perhaps a combination of different things. But something needs to change because this is absolutely not good enough.
Like with almost every game this season, Arsenal were utterly abject in the first half. No options in possession, one shot on target, a horrible goal conceded from a corner kick. This was the Arsenal that fans have come to know and hate under Unai Emery, and it is absolutely not good enough.
Debates can and will be had about what needs to change. And there are plenty of valid arguments to be made for different aspects of the team that must be entirely overhauled if they want to mount a serious top-four challenge. But one thing that everyone can agree on is that change, whatever it looks like, must come and come quickly.
Arsenal%e2%80%99s harrowing 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United on Monday night, this performance was like almost every other performance this season: lacklustre, sluggish, dull, aimless and without a clear plan. The only difference was there was no Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang inspiration to rescue a result. This had been coming and Arsenal only have themselves to blame.</p>
<h2><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-5-things-learned-unai-emery/"https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pain-in-the-arsenal-podcast-on-arsenal-fc/id1314514440?ign-mpt=uo%3D4%26amp%3Buo%3D4&mt=2%22>Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — The Unai Emery One</a></h2>
<p>Here are five things we learned from <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-5-things-learned-unai-emery/"https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50037720">Monday’s 1-0 disaster</a>.</p>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-94427" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-5-things-learned-unai-emery/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1182502195-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 21: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal inspects the pitch ahead of the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Arsenal FC at Bramall Lane on October 21, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>5. When will it change?</h4>
<p>I am not sure what needs to change. It might be the players, maybe the manager, perhaps a combination of different things. But something needs to change because this is absolutely not good enough.</p>
<p>Like with almost every game this season, Arsenal were utterly abject in the first half. No options in possession, one shot on target, a horrible goal conceded from a corner kick. This was the Arsenal that fans have come to know and hate under Unai Emery, and it is absolutely not good enough.</p>
<p>Debates can and will be had about what needs to change. And there are plenty of valid arguments to be made for different aspects of the team that must be entirely overhauled if they want to mount a serious top-four challenge. But one thing that everyone can agree on is that change, whatever it looks like, must come and come quickly.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-5-things-learned-unai-emery/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. Move the ball quickly </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-94430" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-5-things-learned-unai-emery/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1182518345-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 21: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Arsenal FC at Bramall Lane on October 21, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>4. Move the ball quickly</h4>
<p>I have written extensively regarding Arsenal’s inability to play against the high press. It has been a major issue for this team for many years now, extending back into the latter Arsene Wenger years. And, like clockwork, it was again a problem here.</p>
<p>There were many culprits for this. Bernd Leno took an age to take his set-pieces. Sead Kolasinac and Calum Chambers could not move the ball forwards, either passing backwards or eventually just hoofing an aimless clearance up the line. David Luiz and Matteo Guendouzi attempted to break free but could do not do so with much regularity, especially in the first half. But the two chief offenders were <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-5-things-learned-unai-emery/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=sokratis%22>Sokratis and<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-5-things-learned-unai-emery/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=granit+xhaka%22> Granit Xhaka</a>.</p>
<p>Both were painfully slow to release simple passes. It might be because they had to get the ball onto their preferred foot or maybe they took too many touches before playing a pass or sometimes it was because they positioned themselves poorly when receiving a pass, meaning they invited pressure onto them and were unable to turn away. Whatever it was, Arsenal’s passing moves slowed down whenever Sokratis and Xhaka had the ball. And it cost them throughout the night.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-5-things-learned-unai-emery/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. The Unai Emery favouritism </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-94433" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-5-things-learned-unai-emery/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1182506073-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 21: Kieran Tierney of Arsenal warms up ahead of the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Arsenal FC at Bramall Lane on October 21, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>3. The Unai Emery favouritism</h4>
<p>The ‘first XI’ that <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-5-things-learned-unai-emery/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=unai+emery%22>Unai Emery</a> has predominantly used in the Premier League has been largely outplayed by its reserve version, the one featured in the EFL Cup and Europa League. Right across the pitch, the ‘second XI ‘ looks a more complete, vibrant, energetic and direct team. And yet, Emery continues to persist with those same old underperformers.</p>
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<p>Before the game, when asked about his selection of <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-5-things-learned-unai-emery/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=sead+kolasinac%22>Sead Kolasinac</a> over <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-5-things-learned-unai-emery/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=kieran+tierney%22>Kieran Tierney</a> at left-back, Emery stated that Kolasinac had done anything that meant he should be dropped. Now, that may be true, but Tierney has been superb in his two performances this season and clearly offers far more than the Bosnian, especially when breaking out of the high press.</p>
<p>Similarly, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-5-things-learned-unai-emery/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=granit+xhaka%22>Granit Xhaka</a> again started the game in defensive midfield, despite being utterly incapable of playing the position. He was dire in the first half. But when it came to making the switch, it was Joe Willock, not Xhaka, who was withdrawn.</p>
<p>Despite all the evidence pointing towards the contrary, Emery continues to trust players, systems and approaches that are not yielding positive results. It seems as though he has his favourites, and for a flexible, progressive manager who is looking to enact change in a post-Arsene Wenger era, that is very troubling indeed.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-5-things-learned-unai-emery/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. The Mesut Ozil debate </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">WATFORD, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 15: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal walks past fans as he gets off the team bus prior to the Premier League match between Watford FC and Arsenal FC at Vicarage Road on September 14, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>2. The Mesut Ozil debate</h4>
<p>Unai Emery and <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-5-things-learned-unai-emery/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=mesut+ozil%22>Mesut Ozil</a> are not seeing eye-to-eye. Even if the Arsenal head coach may claim that Ozil is working harder in training and there is no problem between them, his persistence of dropping the World Cup winner from matchday squads tells a very different story — and a truer one at that.</p>
<p>Now, I am not an Ozil fan, per se. I understand and agree with Emery’s tactical decisions to omit the German from Arsenal’s starting XI. But when you are chasing a game with clear control of possession, looking to break down a deep-lying and disciplined defence, there are few players with the same creativity and precision in the final third as Ozil.</p>
<p>Arsenal needed Ozil in this instance. With 20 minutes to go, desperately searching for an equaliser, he would have been the perfect substitute to bring on. But instead, he was sat at home in London, watching on the TV. Emery’s plan to get back in the game was to deploy Bukayo Saka in the number 10 position. That tells you everything you need to know.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-5-things-learned-unai-emery/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. Unai Emery out? </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 21: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal looks on ahead of the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Arsenal FC at Bramall Lane on October 21, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>1. Unai Emery out?</h4>
<p>The signs are increasingly negative for<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-5-things-learned-unai-emery/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=unai+emery%22> Unai Emery</a>. Arsenal are playing worse football than when he arrived, they are still utterly dependent on splash moments from individual players, the same underperforming stars are being trusted to play crucial roles, and there is little development shown.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>On social media, there is an increasing unification of the fan base: it is time for Emery to go. I am not quite sure I am there just yet. I certainly understand the argument, and I agree with many of them, but I also believe that a manager should be given time, especially when he has inherited the situation Emery inherited at the Emirates.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the evidence is increasingly clear: while he may be a respectful person, an emotionally charged, inspirational leader and man of admirable character, he is not a good coach. Those calling for him to be fired certainly think so, and they have a point.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Arsenal Vs Sheffield United: Player ratings" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-player-ratings-bollocks/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-5-things-learned-unai-emery/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/21/arsenal-vs-sheffield-united-player-ratings-bollocks/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Arsenal Vs Sheffield United: Player ratings </a> </div>
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<p>Arsenal will be more patient than the fans. They are a club built on continuity and faith. They trust in their people and process, and Emery is a key part of that. But the pressure is mounting and the questions are circling. Emery needs to find some answers. Fast.</p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">
