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Arsenal have turned out to be a surprise package this season. No one really did expect the London side to pick up such great form under their new boss Unai Emery, and they're clearly on a rollercoaster ride this season.
From losing their first two Premier League games against Man City and Chelsea, the players have gone on to put in their best performances for Arsenal in the past decade. The Gunners are enjoying their team's sudden success, and though they terribly struggle away from home, they can beat the best of sides when it comes to playing at the Emirates, and the Gooners must be immensely happy with how quickly Unai Emery has brought Arsenal back to be a threat.
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Their glorious team goals and the confidence they possess in what they do are a treat to watch. Arsenal were a struggling side under Arsene Wenger in his late years, and Unai Emery had incredible pressure on his shoulder. The Frenchman's tenure with Arsenal was great, indeed, but it was time for him to take his leave and Unai was the right man to take the team forward.
Emery's unpredictable tactics have impressed the fans and they are willing to see more of it in the coming weeks as there are only 8 more games left in the Premier League, and they will certainly wish for a top 4 finish, if not top 3.
So, with that being said, let's go through the 4 reasons why Arsenal can actually finish only behind Liverpool and City this season, despite having played in Europa League for the past two years:
#4 Commendable stability and balance
Stability and balance in a squad are keys to success, and it seems like Arsenal have successfully achieved that. Just when the season is about to end, the players are gaining their form back and this is helping Arsenal by a great margin.
Unai Emery and co have focused on every part of the team, on the aspects where work had to be done, and the aspects where Arsenal was already good at. Last season, the Gunnars were clearly exposed on the defending side, as they conceded nearly 100 goals in the calendar year, something, not the fans really wished for. It's not a big change yet, but when Sokratis and Koscienly have played together, there never seems to be any defensive lapse.
A stable defence provides freedom for the forwards to play their natural game. Though some players have been below average yet again this season, the inclusion of Matteo Guendouzi, Sokratis, Torreira and Leno has brought about significant changes in the team.
#3 Reliable midfield
Unai Emery has transformed this Arsenal side to defend and attack as a team. His playing style and tactics have settled in the squad pretty well, and the midfield partnership of Torreira and Xhaka have been paying the bills for the Gunners.
Arsenal, last week, dominated Tottenham at Wembley, who could do nothing to break the Gunnar's defense as they were yet again helped by the referee to get a goal on the chart. Xhaka and Guendouzi kept Eriksen silent throughout the game, and though Guendouzi was subbed off in the second half for Torreira, the domination remained the same.
Torreira and Guendouzi have played huge roles for Arsenal this season. However, on Sunday, Emery decided to bench Guendouzi in spite of Torreira not being available due to suspension. The midfield was shared by Xhaka and Ramsey and they were absolutely bossing it throughout the game.
The competition Xhaka is facing from the bench has significantly impacted his game. He is quicker, more confident, and more reliable in the midfield. The midfield duo of Xhaka and Torreira can lead them to glory because they have been solid more than often.
#2 Exceptional attacking threats
Words struggle to describe the abilities the wonderful duo of Aubameyang and Lacazette possess. Their understanding on and off the pitch has helped them improve each other's game, and together, they never leave the pitch without scoring.
Though they haven't been playing together much often, they have lit up the scoring charts in the Premier League as Auba and Laca have bagged 17 and 12 goals respectively this season.
Arsenal has been a bit poor when it comes to creating, as they are the team to have created the least chances in the top six. But the fact that Arsenal (63) are only behind Manchester City (79) and Liverpool (68) when it comes to scoring the most goals in the league this season tells us how impressive the Laca-Auba duo have been.
Mkhitaryan and Iwobi have been regular starters under Unai Emery, and Mkhitaryan has been on exceptional form in the past weeks after being sidelined for two months due to a calf injury. Ozil has played his part in bits for Arsenal, but the German looks more determined when it comes to defending and providing Arsenal with the extra-man in defense and midfield.
Arsenal have faced no problems in goal scoring, and if they bring in two wingers to provide Iwobi and Mkhitaryan with some serious competition, there is the feeling that they can outscore even Man City next season - you never know.
#1 Unai Emery
You just cannot expect a better start than this for a new manager. In just a few months time, Unai Emery has given this team hopes of qualifying for Champions League football, the same squad who finished 6th on the league table last season. Though he has experienced some bumps down the lane, he never refrains himself from trying new tactics and systems, which is how a modern football manager should be.
Efficiency alongside beautiful football is what every club aims for, and Unai Emery has been able to bring it to the Emirates in no time. The term 'Emery-ball' is getting quite famous with time, and this will be something the Gooners will always remember.
Considering how they started the season, it would've sounded ridiculous to say Arsenal would fight for the third position against sides like Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham, but the fact that the Gunnars are actually competing for the third spot and are currently above United and Chelsea is really impressive.
The Spaniard's man-management and tactics have brought a different dimension to the Arsenal squad and have always impacted the Gunners' game. Arsenal looks a resolute and a well-organized side who are more keen to come out on top in every single battle against the top dogs in the Premier League.
Unai Emery has bagged 12 points against the top dogs in the Premier League this season - double the number of points Arsene managed to earn last season. Arsenal under Unai Emery looks determined to win, and every player has yielded huge improvements in their game under the Spanish boss.
