Ex-Arsenal Forward: Unai Emery Got It All Wrong Against West Ham

By The Editor
on 12th January 2019

Paul Mariner was baffled by some of Unai Emery’s decisions against West Ham…

Former Arsenal forward Paul Mariner stated that he was baffled by many of Unai Emery’s decision as we succumbed to yet another Premier League defeat against West Ham, ESPN reports.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men took the lead shortly after half-time after starlet Declan Rice slammed home from Samir Nasri’s pass, a pattern of play which came as a result of our failure to clear the ball.

We didn’t create much after going behind, with the team registering only two shots on target for the whole game and much of the focus then turned to Emery’s team selection.

The Spaniard lined us up in a 3-4-3 system with Alex Iwobi, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette leading the line.

Lucas Torreira, arguably our player of the season so far, was left on the bench despite being given a rest for our FA Cup clash last weekend.

And, more importantly, Mesut Ozil was left out of the squad entirely despite being fully fit, with Emery choosing to take three defenders instead.

It’s those decisions which baffled many, and Mariner echoed those calls.

“First and foremost, team selection,” the former Arsenal man said when asked what went wrong.

“This a London derby, a big game, whether Unai Emery realises it or not, this is a massive game for both sets of fans.

“I think he got the formation wrong, I think he got the team selection wrong.

“You’ve got Iwobi, Lacazette and Aubameyang up top, who’s going to give them some supply, Guendouzi and Granit Xhaka? Come on! You’ve got Torreira and Ramsey on the bench, it’s madness!”

The reaction to this defeat following a poor month in December has made it clear that Emery’s honeymoon period is over and fans are now starting to ask questions.

It seems unfathomable for Arsenal fans for that to be the case, but we’re now a ‘normal’ club in terms of the status of our manager and Emery will know that he’s under pressure.

He has to turn the tide somehow.