5 problems Unai Emery needs to solve as Arsenal manager

By James Dudko | May 23, 2018

Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish headcoach Unai Emery reacts during the French L1 football match between Caen (SMC) and Paris (PSG) on May 19, 2018, at the Michel d'Ornano stadium, in Caen, northwestern France. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo credit should read CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP/Getty Images) /

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ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – MAY 12: (L-R) Eddie Nketiah and Granit Xhaka of Arsenal during a training session at London Colney on May 12, 2018 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) /

3. Adding a defensive presence to midfield

One reason Arsenal fans should be ecstatic Emery got the job is his history of relying on destructive holding midfielders in his teams. By contrast, the Gunners have lacked physical ball-winners since the days of Emmanuel Petit, Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva.

Wenger struggled to solve this problem. Granit Xhaka was his last attempt, but the Switzerland international is typically more comfortable in possession than breaking up play.

Emery is a good bet to bring some brute force back to the base of midfield. His Almeria side leaned on the combative tendencies of Felipe Melo. In Sevilla, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Grzegorz Krychowiak and Steven Nzonzi all acted as destroyers in the middle.

Adding a natural ball-winner to this Arsenal midfield would have a two-fold effect. First, it would afford forward-thinking types Ozil, Ramsey and Mkhitaryan more freedom to create.

Second and perhaps most important, a true holding player would offer a vital extra layer of protection for a suspect defense.

Emery’s track record of building from power in the middle can quickly make the Gunners more competitive on all fronts.

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