---
title: "How well is Unai Emery doing?"
canonical: "https://readarsenal.com/2018/10/20/how-well-is-unai-emery-doing/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Kai Draven"
section: "Articles"
published: "2018-10-20T18:32:43Z"
modified: "2018-10-20T18:32:43Z"
---

# How well is Unai Emery doing?

Unai Emery’s tenure as Arsenal manager couldn’t have been dealt a crueler hand than having to face champions Manchester City on the opening day of the season.

After a lacklustre performance at The Emirates we had the worrying prospect of facing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a ground that has been far from kind to us in recent years. Arsenal came from two behind in the first half before a late Marcos Alonso strike saw the home team leave with the spoils.

Fans were understandably nervous having lost the first two games of a league campaign since 92/93, but our subsequent nine-game winning streak will have allayed fears amongst many of the supporters.

![Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/1047173248.jpg)

Over this stretch, Emery has instilled a winning mentality, and a ruthlessness in front of goal. With 19 in the league we trail only Manchester City in the scoring charts, and occupy one of the coveted top 4 spots. At the other end of the pitch the story is all too familiar. So far this season the defence has been breached 10 times in the league, exactly the same as this time last year. Emery still has plenty of work to do if he’s to tighten up the defence, and who starts in that back line still seems unclear.

Emery has brought with him a new coaching team, a new football philosophy, and a tactical flexibility rarely seen under the previous regime. No longer are Arsenal wedded to the 4-3-3 or a variation of. Emery has experimented with three central defenders, and even deployed a 4-4-2 to devastating effect against Fulham. Emery’s tailored approach to each game and the use of different systems has allowed him to rotate consistently, and the mood amongst the players appears positive, with everyone knowing they will get their chance to shine.

Emery has already made a big impression on a number of the squad. Hector Bellerin is quietly improving in the right-back position, Alex Iwobi is playing with a confidence we’ve not seen in him for a while, and Alexandre Lacazette looks every bit the £50m player we all hoped the club were signing last summer.

The player winning most of the plaudits, however, is our new Uruguayan international Lucas Torreira who has been a revelation in midfield. Signed from Sampdoria for £26m, he has brought tenacity and defensive discipline to an Arsenal midfield often criticised for being too soft. With Torreira on the pitch we’ve scored 18 and conceded just 3. Without him in the team we’ve scored 11, conceded 10. His contribution cannot be overstated, and it almost makes you wonder what might have been had he been ready to start the opening 2 fixtures.

![Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/1042972116.jpg)

All in all, Arsenal can be relatively happy with the start they have made to the season. It can, however, be argued that Arsenal have had a kind run of games, and the schedule over the next six weeks will be a far sterner test of their credentials. Arsenal’s next eight games in the Premier League see them face off against five teams in the top half of the table including Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United. In the Europa League they have the group doubleheader against Sporting Lisbon, and a long round trip to face Vorskla in Ukraine. Throw in a Carabao Cup tie with Blackpool, and it could be a tricky period for the new boss to navigate.

After 11 games of the Unai Emery era things are looking good. If the same can be said after the next 11 games it will go a little way to proving the Arsenal board made the right appointment.