When Arsenal appointed Unai Emery as replacement for departed legend, Arsene Wenger, it was clear that the club were looking to take a new turn. Wenger, it seemed, had lost touch with the modern game, his philosophies were those which had brought him great success in his first decade as boss.
Unai Emery, and the Arsenal board, knew the magnitude of work that awaited, but nonetheless were willing to embark on the process. It was always going to be a long process, but one that had to be embarked upon. Throughout Emery’s tenure so far, there has been three(3) words that has been used quite often; ‘Process’, ‘improve’ and ‘Progress’. It has certainly been a process so far, whether for how it was anticipated or not.
The later two, though, has, so far, been only a figment of imagination. After losing the first two(2) matches of last season, Unai Emery master minded a 12-Game winning streak and an overall 21-Game unbeaten streak. It was certainly an incredible run but in the midst of the victories were unconvincing performances, grinding out results, both deserved and undeserved. That, at the time though, wasn’t a problem, this was a manager who had only started managing the team a few months prior and trying to impose his philosophy in a club that has been ingrained in one philosophy for over 2 decades. The fans were happy with the results, and rightly so. Mixed results followed over the course of the season and ultimately, the late season collapse which owed more to avoidable mistakes on the party of the manager than any other issue, hence infuriating a large portion of the Arsenal faithfuls and leading to many declaring him unfit to lead the club long term.
This season began in quite the opposite of last season, 2 unconvincing wins to kick of the season, and the followed a series of bad results. Arsenal have only been able to muster up 4 wins from 12 league games and have already lost 3 times and drawn 5 times, amassing all of 17 points so far, with a -1 GD. The arsenal fans have certainly has enough, the board, though, haven’t, or at least are trying to make it look so for some other reasons best known to them. The time, though, may have come that the big decision needs be taken.
Arsenal play host to Southampton on Saturday afternoon sitting 7th on the log. That in itself is an anomaly, but what’s even more intriguing is that a loss, which is certainly not out of cards, could see them go all the way down to 14th, now that paints a clearly picture of how bad the team has been. A loss on Saturday could finally be the straw that breaks the camels back. Despite some reports suggesting Emery has been given the next 6 matches to keep his job, it’s unlike to hold sway if the results keep getting worse.
Ralph Hassenhutl on the otherside is in a similar position to Emery, his first match, and win, as manager of Southampton came against the Gunners, ending the aforementioned streak. His last match could also come against the Gunners if he ends something else, not a winning streak this time, but a winless streak….Or maybe he could very well end something other that a streak of results, Unai Emery’s tenure as Arsenal boss. Ralph Hassenhutl’s Southampton are winless in their last seven games, taking only 1 point from a possible 21, sitting 19 on the log. He is under increasing scrutiny and pressure to deliver that a loss against Arsenal could end his tenure as Southampton boss.
The game, basically, could end or serve as a life line to either manager, it will by no means be an easy game, 3 point is at stake….. Both managers jobs are probably at stake too. This, then, is potentially a make or break game.
