(via itsroundanditswhite.co.uk)
Emery will be focused on leading his club back into the top four and earn a place in the Champions League. Below, I have listed the five things he will have to do to make that happen.
1. Improve The Defense
Last season Arsenal conceded 51 league goals, the most they had let in since 1984. This cannot continue if the Gunners hope to have any level of success. Emery is aware of this problem and has already brought in two players to address this issue, the first of whom being the experienced right back Stephan Lichtsteiner, who is currently captaining Switzerland in the World Cup. It isn't clear if the former Juventus player will be a starter, but Emery hopes he will mentor youngster Héctor Bellerín, who suffered a dip in form last season.
Emery's second signing may well prove to be his most important of the transfer window. With Petr Čech's form becoming an increasing issue last year, and David Ospina never really making the grade at Arsenal, a new goalkeeper was key. The man the Gunners have chosen is Bernd Leno, and with a fee of $25 million, he has become the fifth most expensive goalkeeper of all time. The 26-year-old German stopper has already played over 350 career games, as well as being part of Germany's champion Confederations Cup squad last summer. Arsenal is hoping he will be able to wear the number "1" shirt for many years to come.
Although these two signings have been well received by the Arsenal fans, there is still work to do. Laurent Koscielny suffered a ruptured Achilles in May and will be out for around six months. There are also question marks about the form of Skhodran Mustafi, and youngsters Calum Chambers, Rob Holding and Konstantinos Mavropanos may not be ready for regular first-team action. Arsenal has been heavily linked with Sokratis Papastathopoulos, and an announcement is expected in the coming days. The 30-year-old Greek player will add much needed talent to the Arsenal defense, and these three signings could be key to Emery improving the team's woeful defensive effort from last season.
Emery's second signing may well prove to be his most important of the transfer window. With Petr Čech's form becoming an increasing issue last year, and David Ospina never really making the grade at Arsenal, a new goalkeeper was key. The man the Gunners have chosen is Bernd Leno, and with a fee of $25 million, he has become the fifth most expensive goalkeeper of all time. The 26-year-old German stopper has already played over 350 career games, as well as being part of Germany's champion Confederations Cup squad last summer. Arsenal is hoping he will be able to wear the number "1" shirt for many years to come.
Although these two signings have been well received by the Arsenal fans, there is still work to do. Laurent Koscielny suffered a ruptured Achilles in May and will be out for around six months. There are also question marks about the form of Skhodran Mustafi, and youngsters Calum Chambers, Rob Holding and Konstantinos Mavropanos may not be ready for regular first-team action. Arsenal has been heavily linked with Sokratis Papastathopoulos, and an announcement is expected in the coming days. The 30-year-old Greek player will add much needed talent to the Arsenal defense, and these three signings could be key to Emery improving the team's woeful defensive effort from last season.
2. Replace Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla
It was announced last week that academy graduate Jack Wilshere would be leaving this summer. A fan favorite, Wilshere has been at the club since he was nine years old, but his time at Arsenal was hindered by a series of injuries. Despite playing 38 games last year, Emery could not guarantee him a starting role, and thus he decided to leave. Before Emery arrived, it was announced that Santi Cazorla would also be leaving, another player whose time at Arsenal was plagued by injury.
It is widely believed that once Uruguay's participation at the World Cup is over, defensive midfielder Lucas Torreira will join the Gunners. Arsenal has been crying out for a strong, energetic player like Torreira for years, and he could prove to be an important signing in Emery's rebuilding.
Arsenal has also been linked to a host of other midfielders like Aleksandr Golovin and Mario Götze, but no signing seems forthcoming at the moment. It is possible that Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey could be Emery's first choices next season, meaning a big name signing, as well as Torreira, would be unlikely.
3. Strategize Best Attacking Options
I believe that Emery will go with the 4-3-3 formation he used at PSG last year. This will give the Gunners a more defensive outlook, but it is likely at least one of the key players such as Mesut Özil, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Alexandre Lacazette or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will miss out on a starting spot. It definitely is not a bad thing to have strength in depth, but Emery will need to figure out the best way to get the most out of his attacking options. It is widely believed that once Uruguay's participation at the World Cup is over, defensive midfielder Lucas Torreira will join the Gunners. Arsenal has been crying out for a strong, energetic player like Torreira for years, and he could prove to be an important signing in Emery's rebuilding.
Arsenal has also been linked to a host of other midfielders like Aleksandr Golovin and Mario Götze, but no signing seems forthcoming at the moment. It is possible that Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey could be Emery's first choices next season, meaning a big name signing, as well as Torreira, would be unlikely.
3. Strategize Best Attacking Options
Last season, Wenger frequently chose to rotate Lacazette and Aubameyang after the former arrived in the January transfer window. Between them, they managed 27 goals in 52 appearances. If Emery can find a system that gets them playing well together, the Gunners could have one of the most lethal attacking duos in next season's EPL.
4. Sort Out The Terrible 'Away Form'
4. Sort Out The Terrible 'Away Form'
Arsenal's form at the Emirates stadium last season was superb, and only champion Manchester City had a better home record. However, their away form was a completely different story. The Gunners only won four times and lost 11 on the road, only scoring 20 goals, compared to 54 at home. This will have to change next season along with Arsenal needing to be more competitive. It is hard to pin down exactly why the away form was so bad, but it is an issue Emery needs to fix, and fast! Arsenal's first away game of the season is against Chelsea, and they need to get off to a good start if they want to have a successful season.
5. Pick The Right Captain
5. Pick The Right Captain
It is no coincidence that during the first decade of Arsène Wenger's reign (you know, when they were actually successful) he had arguably the two finest captains and leaders the club has ever seen in Tony Adams and Patrick Vieria. Over the next 10 years, the club has had seven captains, none of whom lasted more than three years. This needs to change, and the club must pick someone who can lead from the front and all the way through to success.
Čech and Koscielny have the experience for the job, but with Čech's place under serious threat, and Koscielny's fitness an issue, neither seems like a good fit. I believe the best choice for the role is midfielder Aaron Ramsey. He has been at the club for 10 years and has played over 300 games. He has a calm head, and there is no doubt about his place in the team. If given the job, with Xhaka as his deputy, they could provide the leadership the Gunners have been missing for years.
The only thing you can guarantee about next season is that Unai Emery has a huge job on his hands. We all witnessed the disaster that unfolded when David Moyes replaced the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, and he took over a team that had just won the league. Emery is taking over a side that just had its worst Premier League finish since 1995, and there much work to be done if he wants to get the Gunners back on top.
- Josh Pitt (@josh_rocket)
Čech and Koscielny have the experience for the job, but with Čech's place under serious threat, and Koscielny's fitness an issue, neither seems like a good fit. I believe the best choice for the role is midfielder Aaron Ramsey. He has been at the club for 10 years and has played over 300 games. He has a calm head, and there is no doubt about his place in the team. If given the job, with Xhaka as his deputy, they could provide the leadership the Gunners have been missing for years.
The only thing you can guarantee about next season is that Unai Emery has a huge job on his hands. We all witnessed the disaster that unfolded when David Moyes replaced the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, and he took over a team that had just won the league. Emery is taking over a side that just had its worst Premier League finish since 1995, and there much work to be done if he wants to get the Gunners back on top.
- Josh Pitt (@josh_rocket)
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