Ask an Arsenal fan for his number one wish, it would be to watch Champions League football at the Emirates next season. For the past few seasons, the Gunners, who used to be a regular face in the competition, are now missing. Of course, that is blamed more on the poor performance in the domestic league.
Arsene Wenger is gone. Unai Emery has stormed the dressing room with his fresh ideas. Moreover, the tactician is aware of the high scrutiny that comes with the Arsenal job. He needs to give the fans and team what they want. There are two routes for the Spanish mastermind to follow.
The first is finishing among the top four but can that be achieved? To start with, this is Emery’s first experience managing an English side. Despite that, he went unbeaten for 22 matches and the Gunners look threatening to teams below the top six. The North Londoners aren’t yet on the same level with Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham or even Manchester United.
So far, the Gunners defensive woe is a setback. They’ve conceded 32, which is the sum of what Liverpool and Tottenham have conceded. Only Manchester United have yielded as much among the top six. They’ve made silly mistakes that lead to goal eight times, coupled with an own goal. They don’t defend like a top-side.
The team lack top-class defender. Hector Bellerin, Sokratis, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Rob Holdings, Monreal, Mustafi, Kolasinac and Laurent Koscielny are all average at best. In fact, none of them can fit into the lineup of any other team in the top-six. They’re unreliable and inconsistent.
With the way things are panning out, it’s sad news for Arsenal fans that they might finish this campaign with their shaky defence. This is because the Arsenal board aren’t ready to recruit fresh face this January. Expecting a top-four finish at the season’s is like chasing shadows.
The Gunners need to shift focus to the Europa League where they are a strong contender. A triumph will guarantee them a spot in next season’s Champions League, just like Manchester United did under Jose Mourinho. Unai Emery’s experience in the competition gives the Gunners an edge above others. Their manager has won three consecutive Europa League titles with Sevilla before moving to Paris. His successful outing in the competition will bring the needed drive to the team.