Kevin Whitcher
The usual five talking points ahead today’s match away to Leicester in the Premier League
Is the axe hanging over Unai Emery?
It seems obvious to everyone outside of the club that Unai Emery is not the man to lead Arsenal back to the promised land, but we just cannot second guess what is happening inside the club. If the Gunners are defeated today, they will be nine points behind Leicester. There’s no question that, after only 12 matches, that gap cannot be closed, but the debate is whether there is a chance to do it with the current head coach in charge. Firing him and his backroom team would not only be costly, but the club need to have replacements ready to go, or at least a new coach with his own set of people who can assemble in North London at short notice. In a sense, an international break is the ideal time to make the switch if it is to be done during the season. It gives a two week break to get things in place. One of the reasons that Emery was originally preferred to Mikel Arteta back in May 2018 was that he had his own backroom team – this was before the night of the long knives when most of Arsene’s cronies were given their P45s, but Messrs Gazidis, Sanllehi and Mislintat (the decision makers on who to appoint) would have known the plan was to unload Neil Banfield, Gerry Peyton, Paul Johnson and company.
I wish it could be Christmas every day?
You’re not going to like this, but it is my belief that Emery will hang onto his job until the New Year at least. There are three home fixtures over 18 days starting on 15th December that will decide his fate. Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United provide the opposition. Emery might be sacked after the first two matches, with a caretaker manager (most likely Freddie Ljungberg, but don’t rule out Steve Bould) given the reins short term. A couple of former players might be drafted in to assist – such as Martin Keown, Robert Pires and possibly even David O’Leary. If there is a new manager bounce, the club might even give the temporary man in charge the rest of the season, although they won’t make the same mistake Manchester United made by deciding on the long term until the summer of 2020.
Unai isn’t going to risk Granit today
Arsenal are a real soap opera these days, and in the latest episode of the Granit Xhaks storyline, Emery told the press that, "I spoke with him on Tuesday to see how he is feeling now and his mind because he is training well, but he said to me he can't play." Well, he can play, and I am sure he will for Switzerland during the international break, but right now, the one thing the team needs is the supporters behind them. There are good footballing reasons not to pick Xhaka, but that's been the case for many months. I’m struggling to see him in an Arsenal shirt again myself. Cue a January transfer and another ugly episode with things not ending well for an Arsenal skipper – remember Gallas, Fabregas, Van Persie and Koscielny? Granted, Vermaelen, Arteta and Mertesacker parted on better terms, but they hardly played in their respective final seasons either. The curse of the captaincy?
Brendan Rodgers – an unlikely candidate
Someone mentioned to me in a conversation this morning that Leicester’s current manager would be a good choice to replace Emery. And one thing you have to say about Rodgers – he’s not afraid to jump ship mid-season if a bigger job comes up. Arsenal did consider him when they were looking at the candidates to replace Arsene, although it never got as far as him being interviewed. One thing that would count against him is the amount of compensation that would have to be paid to Leicester, on top of Emery’s pay-off. With Arsenal’s finances right now, they’d struggle to justify the funds of securing Rodgers.
Three at the back again?
Emery returned to the formation he fielded a fair bit last season on Wednesday afternoon in Portugal, presumably with the aim of tightening things up at the back. It was a qualified success in that most of the opposition attempts seemed to be from distance, although the team were not able to hold out in the end. If the formation is retained, I can see a starting eleven of Leno – Bellerin, Chambers, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac – Torreira, Guendouzi – Ozil – Aubameyang, Lacazette. But of course it won’t be that. Unai will always throw in someone unexpected. Still, at least he has options, eh?
Conclusion
Call the men in white coats, because you know what? Arsenal are playing so badly that no-one gives them a chance today. Which means they will probably win. That is the way football works. I’ve seen it too often before. Lose and the pressure is heavy on Emery. Lose heavily and you’d have to ask questions about the sanity of the people running the club if they don’t swing the axe. We all know this is going to end in tears, the only question is when. I just don’t think it will be today. Leicester 1 Arsenal 3. Do you think the extra long sleeve look suits me?
