Arsenal are WORSE under Unai Emery than Arsene Wenger – Jamie Carragher and David Moyes react to shock defeat to Sheffield United
David Moyes has told talkSPORT Arsenal have shown little improvement since Unai Emery took over from Arsene Wenger as manager, warning the Spaniard’s job could soon be under threat if results don’t pick up.
However, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes it’s worse than that, saying Arsenal have GONE BACKWARDS under Emery.
The Gunners suffered a shock defeat to Sheffield United on Monday night to pile pressure on the boss and his under-performing squad.
They had the chance to move up to third in the Premier League with a win against the top flight’s newbies, but instead saw their eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions halted.
The result also continues Arsenal’s poor away form, having failed to win on the road since the opening weekend.
With £72million signing Nicolas Pepe guilty of a shocking miss, Emery’s spending has also come under the spotlight having splashed out more than £200million since his appointment in May 2018.
And speaking on Tuesday’s Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, Moyes admitted he struggles to see where that money has gone.
“Ultimately if the managers don’t get the results, eventually you’re going to find yourself in trouble,” said the former Manchester United and Everton boss.
“I think Arsene Wenger did a really good job for Arsenal, he changed so much at the club over the years and he brought so much to the game but everybody was looking for a new Arsenal. When you’ve been at a club for 20 years sometimes you do need the change. You don’t want to overstay your welcome.
“Bringing in Unai Emery was maybe the right time, but I don’t know if I’ve seen Arsenal have been relatively any better.
“We’re excited by their forward play, some of their speed going forward last night was good, but ultimately it didn’t lead to any goals and you always felt they were vulnerable to conceding, which they did do.”
The defeat leaves the Gunners in fifth place after four wins from their opening nine games.
And, speaking on Sky Sports on Monday evening, Carragher claimed Arsenal would be in exactly the same position if they had kept Wenger in charge last summer, saying they just haven’t improved since the veteran Frenchman left.
“I don’t see anything different from when Arsene Wenger was there at the end. I don’t see it,” said Carragher.
“In fact, at times it actually looks worse. I think Sheffield United played better football in the first half than Arsenal and I don’t think you would have seen that under Wenger.
“It’s still early in his second season, but I think we’re getting to that stage near Christmas where you think ‘is Unai Emery the right man to take Arsenal into his third season?’ I think that’s how it is with Arsenal supporters and within the club.
“I just expected something different. We’re seeing the same stuff. A lot of the time a manager is brought in because the manager before is not getting X, Y or Z right. But they are still getting rolled over every time they play a big game.
“Their away record is two clean sheets in 24 games, eight wins in 24. What’s changed? Nothing has changed.”