Arsenal Star Heaps Praise On Unai Emery: We Know Exactly What He Wants From Us

Shkodran Mustafi enjoying the tactical clarity provided by Unai Emery

Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi admitted that he’s enjoying the tactical clarity provided by the new boss Unai Emery and claimed that’s the secret behind our unbeaten run, Hayters TV reports.

Mustafi has been a mainstay in the first XI since Emery’s arrival despite many being under the impression that he’d become the first major casualty of the Spaniard’s arrival.

According to reports, Mustafi was close to leaving last season though Arsene Wenger couldn’t secure a replacement for him which ended those talks.

Emery has come in and tweaked a few things, one being the position of our back four once the opposition is in possession of the ball.

Just like the modern coaches, the former PSG boss wants the back four to hold a high line which in-turn allows the midfield players to press the ball more intensely.

It’s one of many changes Mustafi has enjoyed Emery drilling into the team.

“For me personally the biggest thing was that he is someone who really knows what he wants from each player,” Mustafi told reporters ahead of the visit of Sporting Lisbon on the Europa League.

“He tells you exactly what he wants you to do, but at the same time, he gives you freedom.

“When we don’t have the ball he tells you exactly where to stand and how to get the ball from the opponent… it is a good mix between freedom but still very disciplined and having the same plan in the whole team, and that is what we saw especially against Liverpool.”

It’s interesting to see that the players value such instructions and it seems that’s what frustrated them the most under Arsene Wenger – the balance between freedom and discipline.

When playing against quality opponents, your players want to know you have what it takes to outwit the man in the other dugout – a battle Wenger never thought was that important.