Key Talking Points For The Europa League Semi-Final Tie Between Valencia v Arsenal
It’s a little difficult beginning this write up today, as the footballing gods have conspired over the last two days to make us all extremely miserable. We can only hope that as Arsenal head to the Mestalla to take on Valencia, they’ve already gotten their fair share of hijinks.
You’d be forgiven if you were worried that Arsenal were a candidate for the third falling short in as many days. We haven’t exactly been lighting up the world with our play. Still, Arsenal remain in the pole position to head to a European final for this first time since the ill-fated trip to Paris in 2006.
Where we stand
In the wake of Arsenal’s win last week at the Emirates, it would be easy to have some level of confidence that the job is almost done. But as Emery said in the post-game comments, we are only at half time.
Unlike their league form, Arsenal were quite able to get forward and create chances against their Spanish visitors in the first leg of tie.
The starts of the day were as you’d expect, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang. The Gabon striker sealed the tie with the late volley to give the Gunners some breathing room while it s was the Frenchman who netted a brace to bring Emery’s team back into the match and eventually secured the lead.
Together they have netted 43 goals for Arsenal in all competitions and their link up play for the first goal indicates why Emery insists on playing them together.
Time for Emery to prove his worth
For all of his faults, we always knew what Arsenal were about under Arsene Wenger. The same cannot be true with Unai Emery’s version of Arsenal.
In the last five matches, Emery has had his side set up 5 different ways. Each way looks as disjointed and unbalanced as the other.
When you watch Arsenal play for Emery, you’d be hard pressed to identify a system of play or style of play. Shape is almost non-existent, and the defensive base is worse now than it was previously. All-in-all its not a good first year for the Spaniard. But there is hope.
If there is one positive people hang on Emery its his pedigree in this competition. The Europa League has been 4 times by this man, and it may be the level he is best suited for.
With his Arsenal squad faltering in the league, winning the Europa League is the only viable way Arsenal really have left to qualify for the Champion’s League.
Emery needs to channel his inner motivator and find a connection to his players (yes, they are all his players.) He needs to get them put the disappointment of the last few weeks aside and get them to rise to the occasion.
Yes, this isn’t the grandest of stages, but it is a chance for a title, just like winning the FA Cup and League Cup are. Of course, the Champion’s League and the Premier League are what we really hope for but this our reality . . . for now. It’s up to Emery to prove his worth and bring this home.
Holding the line
“This season Arsenal have allowed 50 goals (11th most), have allowed 485 shots for 10th most and allowed 50.2 non penalty xG which is 10th best. Last year Arsenal allowed 51 goals for 13th most, allowed 422 shots for sixth fewest and conceded 44.2 non penalty xG which was sixth best.”
That paragraph is from an article in SB Nation – the Short Fuse. It’s a damning indictment of Arsenal’s defending this year in the league. Its not better it’s worse.
In the first leg against Valencia and in both ties against Napoli, only poor finishing saved Arsenal from another fate.
Overall Emery doesn’t look to have addressed Arsenal’s defensive structure. The players look as lost and unfocused, if not more, than they did under Arsene Wenger. You can blame the players all you want (and there is enough blame there to go around) however, if they have no idea what they are supposed to be doing in a defensive set up, than the manager has to bear the brunt of the blame.
We cannot depend on the front two and attacking prowess to carry us. There are going to be matches where they don’t work well. Then its going to be up to the defense to bail out Arsenal.
The players have to stand committed and focused even if they aren’t aware of what the boss is trying to achieve off the ball. If they can do that, they stand a chance of advancing to their first European final in 13 years.
Let Arsenal be Arsenal
For all the talk of players and who’s they are and aren’t, when you look at them collectively this is a team and a group that needs to be on the front foot and unshackled.
It plays to the strengths of most of these players.
Emery when he opts to sit back deep and absorb pressure puts a team in a situation that they just aren’t collectively designed for. They need to be on the ball and pressing the attack.
Emery needs to unleash the team and let them be as expressive and free flowing as possible.
It may seem a little dangerous but it’s less so, than sitting back an absorbing pressure with a team that has no idea what’s defensive structure is.
Emery talked about Arsenal being protagonists on and off the ball. So far there has been little evidence of that from the Gunners this year. Tonight, would be the perfect night for it to happen.
Conclusion
The door to the Champion’s League via the top 4 is shut. Unless Arsenal beat Burnley by a large amount and Spurs lose, we are set to be outside the top 4 for the 3rd consecutive year.
However, we have a route to the grand daddy of football competitions, but it requires Emery to do some un-Emery things. Can he do it? Possibly. This isn’t his first run at the Europa League title, he knows how to manage it. But can he do it with a squad like Arsenal?
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