https://statsbomb.com/2018/05/will-unai-emery-succeed-at-arsenal/
Chanced upon this article earlier today. Reading it now, a year after it was written, I would say it has aged rather well. It's clear to see the critique of Emery's tactical approach is as accurate today as it was precient then.
Emery's preference for conservative football and the observation that it is in that style his teams are at their best, have been borne out over the season in my view. Beyond the slant toward defensive football, it does seem Emery adapts the tactical approach to the players rather than trying to implement an approach he considers ideal or is expert at executing. Whilst that's not a criticism in itself, indeed Emery has said he wants a "chameleon" team capable of playing in different ways, it is a relevant concern this summer in terms of recruitment for next season.
Emery has always built around the players he has been given, is that going to be the case after the transfer window closes this summer or will he be part of the design team with a grand vision of how he wants his team to play, with players signed to bring that into reality?
I fear the former. I think the club are targeting undervalued players based on statistical analysis and I think, owing to Emery's lack of a clearly defined tactical approach, that will take precedence over finding just the right players to flesh out a defined style of play.
Thinking about it more, maybe signing undervalued talent is the way to go? Emery could be gone in a year or by Christmas, who knows? But the talent will still be there to be utilised or sold. If we have done our analysis properly when recruiting, then profit should be easy to come by.
