BSP-01 Emery’s impact puts Arsenal rebuild ahead of schedule

355

ZCZC

BSP-01

FBL-ENG-PR-ARSENAL-LIVERPOOL-EMERY

Emery’s impact puts Arsenal rebuild ahead of schedule

LONDON, Nov 4, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Arsenal are still waiting for a first
statement win of the Unai Emery era, but the progress made by the Spaniard in
his first three months in charge was clear to see as Liverpool left the
Emirates content with a point from Saturday’s thrilling 1-1 draw.

Despite a 14-game unbeaten run in all competitions, the Gunners remain
four points off Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table and will end
the weekend outside the top four courtesy of North London rivals’ Tottenham’s
3-2 win at Wolves.

But much has changed since the opening day of the season when reigning
champions Manchester City outclassed Arsenal on Emery’s first chance to make
an impression as the man to succeed Arsene Wenger’s 22-year reign in charge.

That sunny August afternoon the home fans bristled at the sight of veteran
goalkeeper Petr Cech struggle to come to terms with the former Paris Saint-
Germain coach’s instructions to play out from the back.

On a brisk November evening, Emery lauded the part played by the
supporters to roar Arsenal on to level eight minutes from time through
Alexandre Lacazette after James Milner put Liverpool in front on the hour
mark.

“The spirit is like we want and also the atmosphere today was a very big
atmosphere with the supporters pushing for 90 minutes,” said Emery.

Summer signing Bernd Leno has since replaced Cech as number one and shown
he is far more adept with the ball at his feet as Arsenal moved the ball
smoothly upfield despite facing the famed ‘gegenpressing’ that characterises
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

“The manager has a new philosophy. Many things changed, because ArsSne
Wenger was here for a long time,” said Leno.

“It was clear we needed time but like you saw today, the movement and the
confidence of the players is always getting better.

“Today we controlled the game against a big club, against big players.”

– Torreira a fans’ favourite –

In midfield Lucas Torreira had to wait until late September for his first
league start. But the Uruguayan international is the type of player Arsenal
lacked in the final years of Wenger’s reign.

Already his mixture of tough tackling and passing ability in possession
has made him a fans’ favourite.

And up front it was Lacazette, who started the season playing second
fiddle to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the bench, who repaid Emery’s faith
for keeping him on the field and sacrificing Aubameyang with his
substitutions in the search for an equaliser.

“We felt we had the quality to play (against) the top of the league
tonight,” said Lacazette.

Even Emery admitted Arsenal are far from the finished article, even citing
Liverpool’s gradual improvement in three years under Klopp as an example to
follow.

“It is not a bad point but we need more,” he added.

“They can win the Premier League this season. They play the final of the
Europa League three years ago and last season they were in the final of the
Champions League — they are a very good example for us.”

However, Emery’s rapid progress suggests Arsenal are well-placed to
challenge for a return to the Champions League next season after finishing 12
points off the top four in Wenger’s final campaign. “We are giving extra
intensity and you can see the manager demands a lot not just in games but on
the training pitch and it is paying off,” said midfielder Alex Iwobi.

While Wenger got the grand farewell he deserved for winning three Premier
League titles in his first decade in charge, Iwobi’s words are an indictment
of how standards had slipped towards the end of the Frenchman’s tenure.

Emery finally has the Gunners firing again.

BSS/AFP/MSY/0903 hrs