Coombs wrote:
I don't understand the reactions. He was wish-listed by so many when he was at Sevilla, used as a stick to beat the board/Kroenke/Gazidis with, and went to the most ridiculous club in world football where he actually did alright. If we want someone with experience with big egos, who has had to deal with perhaps one of the most difficult man-management jobs in the world, we've got him. If we want someone who has proven he can overachieve with a relatively low budget, we've got him. If we want someone who can organize a team and give specific instruction, we've got him. If we want someone who plays attacking football and can get a team scoring goals, we've got him. His teams press high and smart, use 2 DM types and a B2B AM that drops between them, perfect for Ramsey or Ozil depending on opposition. He goes 442 often, especially against other teams with a high line. Tactically, I think he's very sound and focuses on details that our players really need, especially when it comes to effective pressing as a team. We've got some players who can be very quick in the transition. If the opposition play through the press, it's all hands on deck, drop deep, and play for the counter. He's got clear strategies for different situations and phases of play that, I think, actually suit our current players quite well other than what we obviously need (GK, CB, CM, winger, and cover at FB). I think he'll have good answers for the Auba/Laca question, and after dealing with Zlatan, Neymar, and co. he'll come in and create a demanding, challenging, and hopefully very productive environment in training and in the dressing room, which should translate to some actual performances on the pitch for once.
I love Arteta, and I dream of him being Arsenal manager one day, but it really could have gone so wrong for so many reasons. I think we've got a better chance of a successful season with Emery in charge, pending some good recruitment. Preseason will be so important. These guys need to be whipped into shape, from a tactics and mental discipline perspective, and the new guys that we better sign need to be integrated ASAP, because at least 3 of them will have to be starters.
I do feel a slight twinge of disappointment, but only because I had convinced myself of Arteta. Let's give this guy a couple years. He comes from what is definitely an elite club these days, and in that regard, he's probably the best we could've hoped. We'll see what Tuchel accomplishes at PSG, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was just about as much as Emery did.
I honestly didn't think Emery was an option. Everything pointed to him going back to Spain. He is one of the top managers available, and we landed him instead of a guy 10 years his junior who has never managed a game of football. I was beginning to get hyped for Arteta only because of the fairytale potential, but it was a fucking long shot. This is an infinitely better appointment, and I'm not sure that given the current market we could have done much better.
I think he's got a very clear style, not sure why people are saying he hasn't articulated it. Structured team-pressing in the opponents third, compact counter-attacking in the defensive 2/3rds, technical wingers, mobile CF, overlapping FBs, double-pivot, and a creative B2B player that draws the opponents press too deep when in possession, or overloads the wing to leave space between the lines for a quick counter when off the ball. The CL implosions at PSG came from player-power, which made them complacent, not managerial incompetence imo.
