Arsenal ‘aren’t going in the right direction’ under Unai Emery, says Gunners legend Ray Parlour
Unai Emery has been urged to learn from Arsene Wenger, as Arsenal are not ‘going in the right direction’ under the Spanish boss.
Gunners legend Ray Parlour believes Emery is confusing his players by constantly chopping and changing his tactics and formations.
The manager is under increasing pressure following a string of disappointing results, with Arsenal winning just two of their past ten Premier League games.
Just a couple of weeks ago the Gunners could have gone third with a win over Sheffield United, but instead their 1-0 defeat at Bramall Lane signalled the start of a rut.
They have won just once from their next six games in all competitions – and even that was a nervy 3-2 victory over Vitoria in the Europa League.
The north London side now sit sixth in the Premier League, one place below the Blades, and eight points outside the top four.
And former midfielder Parlour believes the manager has to stick with a plan and put the time in on the training pitch to see improved results.
Speaking on Wednesday’s Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, the Romford Pele said: “Emery doesn’t know his best team and he doesn’t know his best formation, but he should know! You’ve got to work on these formations. Do they work on them?
“[Mesut] Ozil was frozen out and now he’s back in favour, and defensively they’re still not solid enough.
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“All these things are not in the right direction for Arsenal at the moment.
“I don’t mind three at the back, but you’ve got to work on it week in, week out in training, so the players know exactly what their jobs are as a team and then we can maybe move up the league.
“He needs to say the formation we’re going to play and stick to it!
“You can’t keep changing systems. At the moment it’s 4-2-3-1, then it’s 4-3-3 and then it’s three at the back, nobody really knows!
“It’s about finding the right formula and then working with the players so they understand how he wants them to play, and then it’s down to them when they cross the white line.
“That’s why Arsene Wenger did so well. He trained you, everyone knew their jobs and then he’d leave you alone and say, ‘on match day it’s down to you’.”