Arsenal fans are left baffled and in disbelief seeing Unai Emery's decision favoring the Premier League over Europa League. Puzzled fans were surprised by the Spanish coach's starting lineup when the team faced Vitoria SC in the Europa League on Wednesday. Emery made eight changes to the team with Nicolas Pepe coming out after resting 90 minutes on the bench last weekend.
Keiran Tierney maintained his place in Arsenal's starting XI while Dani Ceballos made his ninth start for the Gunners. But, Unai Emery's selection was not received well by Emirates' fans who are in disbelief that the Spanish coach chose to pick a strong team despite the trip to top-four rivals Leicester City. Arsenal is three points clear of Eintracht Frankfurt in Europa League Group F.
The team only needs one win in three final matches to proceed to the knockout stages. Arsenal sits six points following Chelsea and Leicester City in the fifth spot. The north London side desperately needs points if they are gunning a spot on the Champions League this May. The Gunners' fans are perplexed by Unai Emery's decision not to bench players before the clash scheduled this weekend.
Emery rests Pepe during the Saturday's match with the Wolves only to let him play on Wednesday. Fans took it in a different light with one of them saying that Emery benched Arsenal's £72m winger for Europa League. Another fan criticized the decision stating that Pepe rested during Wolves' match only to play a pointless game, and ended his statement calling for Emery's resignation from the club.
Arsenal fans have only one wish, and that is to see Auba, Pepe, and Laca with Ozil behind them, one fan wrote. Mezut Ozil was frozen the entire season, and now that he has returned in the starting XI, Unai Emery plays Nicolas Pepe against Europa and benches him in the league, it's so depressing, the fan added.
The performances aren’t there. The results are non-existent. He doesn’t have a set system. He doesn’t know his best XI. We have no recognised style. He’s at war with our highest earner. There has been no clarity on the Xhaka situation. Enough is enough. #EmeryOut — Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1) November 6, 2019
Recent rumors claim that Arsenal executives gave Unai Emery an ultimatum to win four matches to retain his spot at the club. Rumors are floating online, stating that the Gunners have already determined the top two contenders for the Spanish coach's post if things go south. Aside from Mikel Arteta and Max Allegri, the Gunners are also reportedly considering former Manchester United and Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho to replace Unai Emery.
