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Since joining Arsenal in the summer of 2018, Unai Emery enjoyed an impressive start to his new season's campaign, going nearly 22 games unbeaten. They were on a winning streak in the Premier League, which lasted for barely five games, but they were still looking robust enough to go the distance under their new gaffer.
However, very soon, things started falling apart. Their 22 games unbeaten run was ceased at the hands of Southampton and their decline in form started at the St Mary's Stadium. To add to their loss, they lost their key man Hector Bellerin due to a calf injury which saw him sidelined for nearly 4 weeks.
Unai Emery still looked sharp enough and Maitland-Niles took the job of covering for his teammate Hector. But since then, Arsenal never won a game convincingly. They fought their way hard in every game and it was Unai's tactical nous that did the job for them until they faced the big teams.
Though it is just Unai Emery's first season at Arsenal, this has been a bit of a disappointing start to his new life with the North London side. Why do you think did Arsenal failed to keep up with their form, despite beginning their season in such an impressive way?
#4 Injuries
If there is any rational reason for Arsenal's dip in form, it's because of the injuries to their key players throughout the competition. Unai Emery signed 5 players when he joined Arsenal, and 4 out of them have been absolutely world-class. The likes of Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi, Bernd Leno and Sokratis have been a step ahead of their fellow teammates, both in terms of superiority and willingness to fight through the hardships.
However, the lack of quality depth in Arsenal's squad has probably cost them their whole season, as their chances for a top 4 finish looks even slimmer. Arsenal lost Rob Holding, Hector Bellerin, and Danny Welbeck on season-long injuries. The latter wasn't a starter under Emery, but he played key roles in keeping Arsenal's Cup win hopes alive and running. Bellerin and Holding were key players and had a very important role in Unai Emery's tactics.
Against Manchester City, Arsenal were ready to put on a fight at Etihad. But just a week before the game, the likes of Mkhitaryan and Sokratis took up calf injuries. Arsenal's backup right back Maitland Niles and central midfielder Granit Xhaka were ruled out for the against City due to groin injuries.
This forced Unai Emery to play a defensive game, and if he would have planned to go as per his normal high-pressing and attacking game, it would have been a repeat of Arsenal's shambolic 5-1 defeat at Anfield in January.
#3 Lack of support from Arsenal's board
Arsenal, being 7th on the list of most valuable football clubs across the globe, had generated expectations in their fanbase that the board will cover up for Unai Emery by signing a defender as a temporary replacement for Holding, a winger to replace Mkhitaryan and a holding midfielder to give the likes of Torreira, Guendouzi and Xhaka some rest.
But instead, Unai Emery reportedly claimed that Arsenal could only do loan deals in the winter transfer market, as they had no funds due to various reasons. This left the fans annoyed. Well, they could do nothing but to accept the fate.
Arsenal only made one signing and it was Unai Emery's former player Denis Suarez; a Barcelona outcast and former Manchester City player. Despite the injury issues in the defence, the board had no plans whatsoever to bring in defenders, leaving it to Unai Emery to work with what he had at his disposal.
#2 Lack of depth in Arsenal's squad
At Manchester City, if in case Laporte and John Stones get injured, Pep has two world-class backup defenders at his disposal - Kompany and Otamendi. If Mohammad Salah and Sadio Mane get injured, Klopp has Shaqiri and Daniel Sturridge who can still put in decent performances and win points for Liverpool.
Same way, if Chelsea's star player Eden Hazard takes up an injury, you have Pedro, Willian, Barkley or Loftus Cheek who can perform on the left flank. Well, that's not the case with Arsenal.
One injury to Rob Holding and Arsenal's defence looks absolutely clueless. Mustafi has never been good enough to play for Arsenal and Sokratis is still not at his very best. The injury to Mkhitaryan left Arsenal with absolutely no creativity and Mesut Ozil's inconsistency has cost him his starting position.
Unai Emery only has a handful of players at his fingertips, on whom he can rely on. That is not the case when it comes to Pep's Manchester City or Klopp's Liverpool. Arsenal had a chance to strengthen their squad, but the board was least interested and as a result, Arsenal might once again play Europa League football, taking a huge hit on their annual revenue and missing out on some lucrative Champions League funds.
#1 Inconsistent defenders
Unsurprisingly, Arsenal has conceded more goals than any other top 6 side in the Premier League (36), one less than Manchester United. They have suffered terribly at the back, due to injuries to their defenders.
To add a cherry at the top of the cake, their backup defenders have never been of top quality, getting thrashed against the top dogs and fighting their way against smaller sides. With no reinforcements in January, Unai Emery has been appointed with the job to take Arsenal to Champions League football with Lichsteiner and Mustafi at the back, which is probably not going to happen.
Unai Emery is a world-class coach, no doubt. He has won a hattrick of Europa Leagues with Sevilla and he has proved himself to be of top brass. But his time at Sevilla still had better defenders than Unai Emery has now, at Arsenal.
Arsenal rarely goes a game without scoring, as their attacking aspects are of top quality. The likes of Aubameyang and Lacazette have lit up the scoring charts. The problem remains in the defence, and now, Emery has to turn Mustafi into Maldini, as that is the only way Arsenal can hope to finish 4th.
