Unai Emery continues to make Arsenal defy expectation and decay after Liverpool clash

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  • Alexandre Lacazette scored a stylish late equaliser for the Gunners.

    Before Saturday’s concussive clash against Liverpool, a simple reduction of Arsenal’s 2018/19 Premier League campaign read: “no surprises”.

    Blown away by champions Manchester City and rejuvenated Chelsea in August. Far superior to the fodder that followed – all seven of them.

    This simplistic reading of head coach Unai Emery’s early months, however, was torn asunder during a helter-skelter first half against title pretenders from Merseyside.

    The Spaniard’s boundless charges would then show enough belief after the break to rebound from concession against the run of play to veteran James Milner’s rebound.

    A flash of brilliance and a sweep of the right boot from striker Alexandre Lacazette saw a merited leveller expertly curl into an open goal.

    Even though the spoils were shared from a memorable 1-1 draw, the Gunners gained something invaluable. Concrete evidence of their renewed convictions.

    It could be enough to gain a welcome return to the Champions League.

    More than that? The gap to City is big, but not yet cavernous.

    Especially when a transformation continued apace against the Reds, rather than showing signs of slowing.

    Emery’s men are freed from the decay and disorder sparked by the final, interminable years of Arsene Wenger’s reign. Confidence, under the once-brilliant, always iconic Frenchman, had long drained away before time was called on a near 22-year reign.

    Arsenal on Saturday were vibrant enough to hand creator Jurgen Klopp a lesson in the ‘gegenpress’. Emirates Stadium rocked to ‘Heavy Metal Football on Saturday, with the volume turned up to 11.

    Possession was dominated 62-38 per cent. And still, the tackle count read 21-13 in favour of the fired-up Gunners.

    For context, Liverpool had 49-per-cent possession – admittedly at Anfield – against City.

    Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set an example from the front against Liverpool. So too, Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

    The latter pair’s insider knowledge of Klopp from their days at Dortmund provided value.

    It was a smart touch, especially, to keep faith and retain value in the constricting attributes of Mkhitaryan even though the Armenia playmaker has not delivered a Premier League goal or assist since August 18’s 3-2 setback at Stamford Bridge.

    Against Liverpool, Mkhitaryan produced the same number of clearances as key passes (two). His selfless shift granted the maverick Mesut Ozil the tactical freedom to produce zero tackles, interceptions or clearances, but lead the way with four key passes.

    The latter-day Wenger would have stuck with Mkhitaryan because of loyalty, rather than through design. Reviews of the numbers appeared to be the last thing on his mind.

    Similarly, the decision to break the mould and utilise an insatiable press was beyond Emery’s formulaic predecessor.

    Mistakes are still made by the Gunners. Such as German goalkeeper Bernd Leno’s limp punch to tee up Milner.

    The key issue is that systemic failures are being eradicated by the reflexive, inventive new man in situ.

    2017/18’s reverse fixture was just as notable. An epic contest saw Liverpool race into a 2-0 lead, fall behind 3-2 and then claw back a point through Roberto Firmino to secure a final 3-3 draw.

    On that day, the visitors to North London boasted an xG (expected goals) of 2.06 from their 14 attempts. This time around, a similar yield of 13 attempts produced an xG that almost halved to 1.15.

    A superior, more-focused Granit Xhaka and the gentle introduction of supreme summer buy Lucas Torreira have significantly strengthened a soft centre.

    But Emery’s impact goes beyond that. It was borne out in the raucous atmosphere inside an Emirates Stadium often derided for either its silence, or an – ungrateful to some – air of rebellion towards Wenger.

    Arsenal are still to lead at half-time under him in the Premier League. But they have won more points from losing positions than any other side in the competition this term.

    Emery has lifted the mood and raised expectations. This is the great gift provided by belated change in the dugout.

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