Premier League 2018-19: 3 reasons why Unai Emery deserves praise for his Arsenal project

#2 Champions League dreams are alive and realistic

In the last 11 Premier League seasons, clubs have made it to the top 4 if they have, on average, achieved 72 points. With 8 games to go, this means Arsenal only need 4 wins more to secure a berth in the European Cup next season.

Undoubtedly, this is a high-scoring campaign for the top 6, so it is possible that 72 points might not be enough. However, Arsenal have played all of the remaining teams in the top 6, and have a relatively easy run [Newcastle (H), Everton (A), Watford (A), Crystal Palace (H), Leicester City (A), Brighton (H), Burnley (A), Wolves (A)] ahead.

They stand to gain from dropped points when Chelsea travel to Old Trafford, and also when Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United all play against one or both the title contenders. The pressure is no longer on Arsenal; it is on the teams who need to catch up.

Arsene Wenger had left a club only good enough to play in Europe on Thursday nights, but having spent a meagre €81.5 million in the summer, Emery has inspired the team to make a solid challenge for the Champions League. Their win against the Red Devils over the weekend, while Spurs and Chelsea dropped points, has given them an extra cushion.

#3 A clear shift in philosophy

This was always supposed to be a season of rebuilding, trial and error. Subsequently improving was inevitable, but the question was how long it would take.

Emery has tested a number of formations at the club at the club, under the umbrella of "possession and pressing". He arrived with a 4-2-3-1, which shifted to a 3-at-the-back a few months in (sometimes a 3-4-3, at others 3-4-1-2). The Basque tactician has always been ready to adapt; he even fielded a 4-4-2 with a midfield diamond against Chelsea in January. In a post-match interview, he elaborated -

“Our best performance can come with different systems — it depends on the opposition and depends also on our players”.

Emery is unfazed by big names and salaries like that of Mesut Ozil. He recognized the need to look ahead before the season even started, giving opportunities to young players like Matteo Guendouzi, Rob Holding, Lucas Toreira and Alex Iwobi.

In far too many seasons of late, Arsenal would falter in one game in March, and the crisis would snowball. After their Europe League defeat against mid-table French club Rennes, however, the Gunners regrouped and put up a convincing performance on the weekend.

Arsenal are learning - Bernd Leno and the backline held Manchester United at bay.

Emery's side, like him, shows a clear willingness to learn. The defensive frailties that have been the source of nightmares for many Arsenal supporters were covered as Koscielny, Sokratis, Monreal and Leno in goal defended resolutely, especially after the second goal against Manchester United.

This is still Arsenal, but it is no longer Arsene's Arsenal.

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Jamie Carragher summarised the positive changes brought by Unai Emery to the club -

"If you judge where teams should finish judging on how we see the squad, I think Arsenal should finish in sixth, and at this moment, they're in fourth. That shows the job that he is doing and that shows the change in the team and the stadium."

The pressure is easing off, as Arsenal build and assert their identity, and look to secure a place in the top 4. Success in this campaign will ensure that the Spaniard can continue his project at Arsenal the way he did at Paris Saint-Germain.

Will kids of the next generation later wonder if the Emirates was named after Emery, as many of us wondered if Arsenal was named after Arsene? Probably not - money and globalization have left us with less patience; it is unlikely that 2018-19 will be the start of a 22-year-long stint.

However, it is high time that we stop calling out Emery as the villain at Arsenal, and give credit where it is due. This is a man building a project.