I can only assume that Emery started with a 3-4-3 because he wanted to rest the 1st XI regulars for the majority (maybe entirety?) of the game- at least one of whom would have needed to play to make it a 4-2-3-1. It made no sense to throw in an alien formation with the time spent using a 4-2-3-1. Clearly it didn't work. Most of the players struggled positionally, only really Sokratis, Monreal and Welbeck looked like they knew what they were doing and that was due to ease of position (MCB, #9) and/or previous experience playing a back-3 system (Monreal). There was no control and we were fortunate to go in at HT with a lead. There was more control in the 2nd half though not at the level Emery desires. Leno, Sokratis, Smith-Rowe & Iwobi played well but the rest of the XI who started were average. I don't mind winning when not deserving of it (at all), especially having witnessed many games under Wenger where the polar opposite occurred, but you start to wonder when the luck will expire...
@SteveHyland Although, I would prefer play with back four. But experimenting a back 3, with a much lower level opponent is worth to try. Emery done a good job. The players need to do a lot mental learning.
@totalfootball.433- A back 3 using his 2nd XI. This wasn't an experiment using the first team against lesser opposition, it was a forced formation change, clearly. It was worth so much of an experiment that he changed it at half time and brought on regular personnel.
@SteveHyland@SteveHyland You always talk a lot, but what is your point? Do you believe, a team should only play with one single formation? Do you believe, it is normal for players to get confused easily for a different formation? Players who had been paid so well. Come on. So, how do you explain what was happening with Leicester City, when Claudio Ranieri lead them to glory? Did they only play with one single formation for the whole season? Playing football is all about how to implement the movement, passing, dribbling, takling, intercept, etc. So the team can open so much space (attacking phase) so team can score many goals. Or close so much space as possible, so the team can prevent the opponent to score (defensive phase). And those are mental learning, the players should only do what ever the Manager ask them to do. Formation to be played only chosen base upon the players avaiable for the match. All profesional football players should understand this basic knowledge.
@totalfootball.433- The irony of you having a single formation in your name while claiming teams should be adept using multiple aside, yes I believe that use of a single formation is conducive to success considerably more-so than tinkering and, actually, top managers agree. Last season, only Juventus of the champions of the top 5 European leagues used their primary formation less than 61% of the time, including Unai Emery: PSG 4-3-3 (89%), Man City 4-3-3 (89%), Bayern (62%) and Barcelona 4-4-2 (61%). Leicester, in their title winning season used the 4-4-2 87% of the time. This says to me that managers have a preferred system and injuries etc cause them to change for the odd game. As for the issue of confusion, yes that happens- which is why teachers tell students not to cram revision for an exam in a short period because it's near impossible to retain all, or even a significant, amount of information. Emery worked on the 4-2-3-1 for months and the 3-4-3 for just days!
@SteveHyland How could my user name can be an irony to you? Did I ever proclaim that I will only play my football or coach my team with a 433 formation? If I prefer a 433 formation than any other formation, it doesn't mean I will only use a 433 formation at all cost. And with all your stats of top 5 European Leagues, the highest procentage to use one single is 89%. So for 11%, the team use other formation. Most of the time, to use other formation would be related to available players, related to injury or to freshen first XI for upcoming tough match/matches. With all my respect to Qarabag FK, Arsenal wouldn't have much problem to play 343, even if only train 343 formation for days. SteveHyland your reply definitely give me conclusion that you always browse so much but you lack the essence of football knowledge.
@Valak Good observation there. Spurs PLAY Barcelona. Spurs is one of the big clubs of London, who loved to PLAY football. So love to play football, so they don't have any appetite to win trophies. Do you want me to remind you the last time little lily win trophies???
@totalfootball.433 Remind me of the score line the last time arsenal played with bayern in the champions league,it was so bad that they vowed never to come back!!
@Valak Do you know who is the highest earner in Tottenham? Do you know why Tottenham tend to sell their best players? Financial profit is the top priority. Summer transfer 2018 Tottenham didn't sell any star players. Good for you. But how many players Daniel bought for Tottenham? So when is the best time for Tottenham to win trophies? Go ask your beloved Daniel.
@Valak Spurs last trophies: 1961 EPL, 1991 FA Cup and 2008 League Cup. So what is the case in a trophy less Spurs? Come on, just use your brain properly, then you can give little help so Spurs can start to win trophies.
Mkhitaryan will not travel due to political tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Leno will surely play to get his game time up and Welbeck should start in the #9. Sokratis is almost fully fit but I wouldn't be surprised to see Mustafi & Holding play with a view to Sokratis returning against Fulham and partnering, hopefully, Holding- who was our only good defender against Watford. I also hope Kolasinac is ready to play so that Monreal can be rested. Lichtsteiner, Elneny, Guendouzi, Iwobi and Nketiah should all start as well. Hopefully Smith-Rowe in the #10. If the league really is Emery's priority then Monreal, Torreira, Aubameyang and Lacazette will be nowhere near the first XI. I would personally leave them at home so the temptation to bring them on isn't there and they can fully focus on Sunday's game. I don't think this will be easy but I do think we'll win. Hopefully there will be no sloppy late goals conceded like against Vorskla. 2-0 Arsenal.
I can only assume that Emery started with a 3-4-3 because he wanted to rest the 1st XI regulars for the majority (maybe entirety?) of the game- at least one of whom would have needed to play to make it a 4-2-3-1. It made no sense to throw in an alien formation with the time spent using a 4-2-3-1. Clearly it didn't work. Most of the players struggled positionally, only really Sokratis, Monreal and Welbeck looked like they knew what they were doing and that was due to ease of position (MCB, #9) and/or previous experience playing a back-3 system (Monreal). There was no control and we were fortunate to go in at HT with a lead. There was more control in the 2nd half though not at the level Emery desires. Leno, Sokratis, Smith-Rowe & Iwobi played well but the rest of the XI who started were average. I don't mind winning when not deserving of it (at all), especially having witnessed many games under Wenger where the polar opposite occurred, but you start to wonder when the luck will expire...
@SteveHyland Although, I would prefer play with back four. But experimenting a back 3, with a much lower level opponent is worth to try. Emery done a good job. The players need to do a lot mental learning.
@totalfootball.433- A back 3 using his 2nd XI. This wasn't an experiment using the first team against lesser opposition, it was a forced formation change, clearly. It was worth so much of an experiment that he changed it at half time and brought on regular personnel.
@SteveHyland @SteveHyland You always talk a lot, but what is your point? Do you believe, a team should only play with one single formation? Do you believe, it is normal for players to get confused easily for a different formation? Players who had been paid so well. Come on. So, how do you explain what was happening with Leicester City, when Claudio Ranieri lead them to glory? Did they only play with one single formation for the whole season? Playing football is all about how to implement the movement, passing, dribbling, takling, intercept, etc. So the team can open so much space (attacking phase) so team can score many goals. Or close so much space as possible, so the team can prevent the opponent to score (defensive phase). And those are mental learning, the players should only do what ever the Manager ask them to do. Formation to be played only chosen base upon the players avaiable for the match. All profesional football players should understand this basic knowledge.
@totalfootball.433- The irony of you having a single formation in your name while claiming teams should be adept using multiple aside, yes I believe that use of a single formation is conducive to success considerably more-so than tinkering and, actually, top managers agree. Last season, only Juventus of the champions of the top 5 European leagues used their primary formation less than 61% of the time, including Unai Emery: PSG 4-3-3 (89%), Man City 4-3-3 (89%), Bayern (62%) and Barcelona 4-4-2 (61%). Leicester, in their title winning season used the 4-4-2 87% of the time. This says to me that managers have a preferred system and injuries etc cause them to change for the odd game. As for the issue of confusion, yes that happens- which is why teachers tell students not to cram revision for an exam in a short period because it's near impossible to retain all, or even a significant, amount of information. Emery worked on the 4-2-3-1 for months and the 3-4-3 for just days!
@SteveHyland How could my user name can be an irony to you? Did I ever proclaim that I will only play my football or coach my team with a 433 formation? If I prefer a 433 formation than any other formation, it doesn't mean I will only use a 433 formation at all cost. And with all your stats of top 5 European Leagues, the highest procentage to use one single is 89%. So for 11%, the team use other formation. Most of the time, to use other formation would be related to available players, related to injury or to freshen first XI for upcoming tough match/matches. With all my respect to Qarabag FK, Arsenal wouldn't have much problem to play 343, even if only train 343 formation for days. SteveHyland your reply definitely give me conclusion that you always browse so much but you lack the essence of football knowledge.
0-3
Bravo Sokratis the Greek ! F...ing those mentally ill azeris !!!
@Rony- He has been our only reliable CB this season post-City. Hopefully he and Holding will start against Fulham. That is our best combo imo.
Arsenal is not serious here, they are the biggest club in London... Champions League is your true places.. Go Gunners!!!
Arsenal resting players. Leno, Holding, Sokratis, Monreal, Lichtsteiner, Guendouzi, Elneny, Kolasinac, Iwobi, Smith-Rowe, Welbeck
2-2
Arsenal look more solid under Emery.
Mkhitaryan to score 3 - 0 Arsenal win
@yervand.beglaryan Don't worry Dear, Sokratis did the job of his friend Miki !
0-2
1-2 or 0-2
X
Both to score
So arsenal are here meanwhile Spurs play Barcelona
@Valak Good observation there. Spurs PLAY Barcelona. Spurs is one of the big clubs of London, who loved to PLAY football. So love to play football, so they don't have any appetite to win trophies. Do you want me to remind you the last time little lily win trophies???
@totalfootball.433 Remind me of the score line the last time arsenal played with bayern in the champions league,it was so bad that they vowed never to come back!!
@Valak Do you know who is the highest earner in Tottenham? Do you know why Tottenham tend to sell their best players? Financial profit is the top priority. Summer transfer 2018 Tottenham didn't sell any star players. Good for you. But how many players Daniel bought for Tottenham? So when is the best time for Tottenham to win trophies? Go ask your beloved Daniel.
@Valak Spurs last trophies: 1961 EPL, 1991 FA Cup and 2008 League Cup. So what is the case in a trophy less Spurs? Come on, just use your brain properly, then you can give little help so Spurs can start to win trophies.
What cheeky sod voted for 5-1 Qarabag? I'm pointing the finger at @glenbayern .
@SteveHyland its free to sign up, so im not surprised to see some 10 year old azarbaycan fans coming and going :D
Mkhitaryan will not travel due to political tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Leno will surely play to get his game time up and Welbeck should start in the #9. Sokratis is almost fully fit but I wouldn't be surprised to see Mustafi & Holding play with a view to Sokratis returning against Fulham and partnering, hopefully, Holding- who was our only good defender against Watford. I also hope Kolasinac is ready to play so that Monreal can be rested. Lichtsteiner, Elneny, Guendouzi, Iwobi and Nketiah should all start as well. Hopefully Smith-Rowe in the #10. If the league really is Emery's priority then Monreal, Torreira, Aubameyang and Lacazette will be nowhere near the first XI. I would personally leave them at home so the temptation to bring them on isn't there and they can fully focus on Sunday's game. I don't think this will be easy but I do think we'll win. Hopefully there will be no sloppy late goals conceded like against Vorskla. 2-0 Arsenal.