Arsenal suffered a setback against newly-promoted Sheffield United, but the loss continues to hound team manager Unai Emery. Inevitably, people begin to compare the current boss against the immediate predecessor, Arsene Wenger. And the main question asked: Was there an improvement at all?
A comparison of Wenger's last 47 games with the Gunners to Emery's first 47 showed that the Frenchman has a bit of advantage, Futaa.com reported. Wenger chalked up 26 wins as opposed to the Spaniard's 25. And the former managed to score more goals while making it harder for the opposing team to score under his watch.
The data only fueled the disenchantment among the Gunners fans that Emery is not exactly more effective than the man he replaced. Specifically, Arsenal supporters are complaining that the man in charge now has shortcomings in overall tactics.
Also, Emery is attracting criticisms for his choice of first-team, highlighted by the decision to continue to leave out Mesut Ozil from Arsenal fixtures.
However, the comparison was not inconclusive, Emery asserted, adding that his record at the club so far speaks for itself.
"Sometimes we forget the memory, and we need to remember. When I arrived here, this team needed to improve being more competitive," Metro reported the Spanish manager as saying.
He recalled that taking on the job last year, he immediately realized that the club required creativity and competitiveness at a higher level. Emery made clear that those elements are present but at an insufficient level.
Emery likewise conceded that fans have a different way of seeing things, and he can live with that reality. However, club supporters need to accept the fact that managers have unique ways of doing things.
"There are a lot of supporters with different opinions. Some want more creativity, some want maybe more intensity, more energy. I want both and my way is both, both sometimes one player is less with than that another because this is the way," the Arsenal boss explained.
In the end, Emery said he is fully convinced Arsenal is more competitive now than the first time he arrived.
Notwithstanding, Emery remains haunted by missteps from the past. The loss against Chelsea in the Europa League last season is a blot on his record. Arsenal also missed a top-four finish in the same period, lacking only a point to make a cut.
The disappointing run, punctuated by the defeat handed down by the Blades, generated criticisms from former Arsenal players, all collectively asking if Emery at the helm is indeed the way forward for the Gunners.
