The criticism of Arsenal manager Unai Emery has been completely disrespectful according to former Premier League defender Liam Rosenior.
Emery came under scrutiny from various members of the football community after Arsenal’s 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City on the opening day of the Premier League season.
Arsenal’s insistent passing style and Emery’s choice of starting XI has been heavily criticised and after just one competitive match in English football, Emery has already experienced some of the harsher perspectives of the English press.
Former Premier League footballer Rosenior has come out and supported Emery, insisting that it is unfair to judge him after just one match, and that the former Paris Saint-Germain boss needs a lot more support and time to adjust his style of play to a talented Arsenal side.
Speaking on Sky Sports show The Debate, Rosenior said: “Emery’s probably spoken to the directors and said this is the way I play. This is what I can give you, not just over one year but over three, four or five.
“That Arsenal team have been struggling for a few years and it takes time to build something, and if you deviate from that straight away you already give away your power and style of play. It took Guardiola time to get Manchester City playing the way he wanted.
“Emery has come in at Arsenal, and they’re trying to get in the top four, he’s trying to play the same way. He’s won titles with Sevilla, he’s won three Europa Leagues in a row, and I find it a bit disrespectful to have a go at him trying to build something in the same way Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have in the past.
“Sam Allardyce was having a go at a manager who’s just had his first game, playing against the best team in the league, trying to put a stamp on his philosophy into this club – let’s see how Arsenal do in six months in six months’ time, because I saw a lot of good in their play.
“Yes they lost, yes Cech made mistakes playing out, but I saw them being able to press the ball because they were trying to rest in possession.”
Arsenal’s start to the season doesn’t get any easier when they face Chelsea in their next Premier League fixture this weekend, as Emery looks to get the Gunners’ season started with all three points at Stamford Bridge.