After Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Bournemouth last night, Unai Emery says that it’s crucial that his team can play with different formations and deal with rotation as we look to continue the chase for a top four place.
The Spaniard rotated heavily again, making six changes from the team that beat Southampton on Sunday, and he played with a back five – a system which hasn’t always been convincing this season.
However, the five goals we scored showed it’s not inherently conservative, and it was a good win to build momentum ahead of the North London derby this weekend.
Speaking afterwards, Emery made it clear that he’s going to continue to shift things around on a game by game basis, but when you win that’s not an issue.
“We are happy and the most important is that we are playing with different players in different matches,” he said.
“The performances are continuing well in these matches, and different systems also.
“We need to use different players, different systems, as each match is different and it is good for this moment, and this moment is coming this week and this month.”
The individual performances of Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan caught the eye, both scored and they got three assists between them, but Emery wouldn’t be drawn on whether that guarantees inclusion at Wembley.
“I am proud of every player’s work,” he continued, “it is important that the players take confidence and take good combinations between them.
“I am going to watch this match for the analysis and I am going to watch Tottenham and after decide our game-plan against them with every player.
“We need the players in the first 11 and on the bench, and we need a big commitment from every player to help us. The next match is Saturday.
“If we can play with big performance I want every player to help us with this.”
Check out today’s Arseblog
Arsenal 5-1 Bournemouth: Ozil and Mkhitaryan shine as Gunners continue to build momentum
As long as it’s smart changes and not changes for the sake of it
I don’t think he’s ever made changes “for the sake of it”.
It’s just easy for people to say that with hindsight if the changes didn’t work.
*cough* Suarez *cough
Hoping for a Good Ebening this Saturday when we smash those homeless goblins!
Can they just replay yesterday’s game? Haven’t enjoyed end to end action from Arsenal like that since NLD at the Emirates… Too much sauce especially from Mhkitaryan and Mesut Özil?
I can never understand why managers who try different players and formations are criticised for “tinkering” or changing for the sake of change. They are paid a good salary to get the edge over the other teams for 9 months of the year week in week out so sticking with the same tactic and line-up is unlikely to be successful. Even the players we have are the cream of the crop, are paid more in a year than most of us can dream of in a lifetime, are superfit and train with each other every day trying out different combinations… Read more »
#sarriout
One of the best comments from a fan as of late. Criticism of Emery is getting out of hand, seems like too many fans play fm and think it’s as easy as lining-up the first XI = win game. Its never that easy.
surely ozil and micky must start the next match. surely!
You’re in for a surprise Ramsey start ahead of Ozil.
No surprise.
Another great option rested and protected for the weekend
Iwobi has to start.
But a 4-2-3-1 depends on the way Spurs are shaped up.
Iwobi- Ozil-Mhki behind either of Auba or Laca a good line up.
Torreira and GRANIT in midfield key.
At the back if Koscielny is less than 100% then Mustafi-Sokratis
Is Torreira suspended for the NLD after last night’s (fifth?) booking?
No they’re wiped at either Christmas or new year, so he’d need another 4 to be suspended as far as I know
Have an upvote Vinny, because there’s no good reason to downvote an honest question.
Its funny how the entire side is starting to play so well right now that Ozil is in the team. I know he isn’t the biggest contributing factor, but he is a factor. A bigger one is one that has been used as a stick to beat Mesut with, and that is Consistency. I keep hearing and reading about Mesut’s lack of consistency, but I have never heard of any other player having to be consistent in order to play for Arsenal. It has sometimes seemed like Ozil is the only player who is inconsistent in the side. I know… Read more »
C’mon man, This is even longer than the main article itself. *sighs* and Ozil is our highest earner at f***ing 350k per week so yes, he must be judged separately and he has to perform consistently because he earns x3 or x5 of some other players in the team.
Excellent point you make. Every player needs to be judged against the same criteria and if inconsistency is the benchmark then most of the squad would need to be dropped.
Not only this, but I think most of the squad are friends with Ozil and him being treated the way he has by Unai cannot have gone unoticed, if it were going on in your workplace you would see the heads of your collegues drop too. Its no coindence while this whole drama was going on, the team morale looked to be at an all time low. I think Unai has now realised that Ozil has a postive effect, not only in the team but also in the dressing room, an effect that Unai cannot afford to be without at… Read more »
Credit to all of the players these last two matches for giving Emery a selection headache.
And credit to Emery for making that much rotation without a hiccup.
It also makes predicting Emery’s tactics and lineup that much more difficult for Poochietinno.
I hope Podgytino has lots of selection worries and that Triphimup can slot home another past Llllloris. Soco could quite easily get under Harvey Krane’s skin and get him sent off. I do worry about Sing-a-Song though. Hopefully Dire still is, and that Harry Wanks.
………………………….Laca……………………………
Iwobi………………Ramsey(Ozil)…………..Mhki
………………Granit…………….Torreira……………
Kolasinac………………………………………….AMN
…………………Sokratis….. …Mustafi……………..
……………………………Leno…………………………..
Absolutely spot on. He hasn’t been correct 100% of the time but who is? But he has been successful more often than not making impact with his subs. And it’s been a great change having someone with the gumption to change things quickly. Wenger got away with his free style jazz approach bc he was good in market and there was a general xenophobia against foreign imports plus lack of spending power for lower teams in the late 90s. But that difference shrank with a double squeeze from oil rich clubs at the top and TV money for the rest… Read more »
As far as flexibility is concern, as I have been saying, there is no absolute solution or preferred set up. Back 4 is useful sometimes, back 3 on other ocassion depending on opposition, our own inherent strength and weaknesses in assets, availability of those players ( wear and tear issues). We now have ability to go two up top with Auba – Laca supported by a playmaker or two behind the striker in Iwobi-Ozil or Iwobi- Mhki or Ozil- Mhki. We have option for 4-2-3-1 too Rotation in deep midfield two in Granit, Torreira, Guendouzi. Rotation at the back in… Read more »
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/tottenham-news-fixtures-new-stadium-arsenal-game-schedule-epl-club-statement-a8767636.html
I guess they didn’t want the first recorded match in their new shit hole to be a loss to us eh?
If I were in their shoes (bleeurrrgh) I’d do the same thing.
Could you imagine the lifetime of Sp*rs they would get if we rolled in and shamed them at the opening of their brand new stadium?