Unai Emery and his Arsenal side, are at a defining moment of the season. All the ups and downs, opportunities and key moments, will become relevant to the sum total of this term in just a matter of months.
With just 9 games left in the Premiership, with a maximum of 27 points at stake and two encounters against Rennes in the Europa League, it’s all to play for. Depending on those outcomes and the performance of others, Emery will have to decide which competition gives him the greater opportunity to make the cut for the Champions League.
The battle for fourth may go on for a while longer but the immediate priority of the Europa league is paramount to keep his options open. Defeat and an exit would mean relying on an unpredictable outcome in the PL.
At present, Europe presents the best option to achieve his goals and make the season count for something. Failure in both, is expected in many quarters, especially within the media but one has to take into account, that Emery is in his first season and before a ball was kicked, expectations were reasonably low.
After a number of great displays, notably against Spurs and Chelsea, those expectations grew but the draw against Spurs at Wembley means that Arsenal have it all to do, with a crunch game against United this weekend. Those missed opportunities against the bin scavengers and dropped points may be crucial to the eventual outcome as the clubs chasing third and fourth look for maximum totals.
Arsenal’s run-in is fairly kind but don’t expect any favours, because it is littered with potential banana skins just waiting for poor performances or catalogue of errors. Wolves, Newcastle, Everton and Watford all pose a threat and we can’t forget Brighton who are in the mix for relegation. The obvious incentive of a Champions League slot will help the Gunners cause in the summer transfer window and should they fail to do so, budgets will be tailored accordingly.
This makes this weekend’s game against United vital. A win would see them back in the hunt with credible credentials, a draw would simply keep them in the hunt and a defeat would hand United the advantage. Solskjær’s United are a clear threat to Emery’s ambitions, managing to grind out results and hit a good run of form in equal measure and at the moment, they are the favourites, but that could change if Arsenal turn the screws on Sunday.
Of course, in between, there’s the small matter of Rennes, who are currently 10th in Ligue 1 and are experiencing an indifferent season. If a draw could be viewed as kind, then this is it. Arsenal will have to get a decent result away and lay the foundations for the return at the Emirates but it’s extremely doable.
It’s a big week and after this, every game will have a crucial feel to it. Any points dropped in the PL could have devastating consequences, any slip-ups in Europe could do the same. Emery will continue his rotation policy and although I don’t personally like it and have been outspoken of its use, it’s the smart thing to do from here on in.
Ramsey and Ozil, Guendouzi, Torreira and Xhaka are all candidates for a shuffle and at the back, expect Mustafi and Koscielny to interchange but hopefully not Sokratis. These are exciting and nervy times but within six games, we may get some idea of what the season holds for us and Emery will have his final decision to make. Which is more important?
