Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery may have approached his return to the Emirates Stadium with a sense of determination on Sunday.
During his tenure at Arsenal, Emery faced criticism from fans for various reasons, including his post-match interviews and training session performances. However, as the current Aston Villa boss faced his former club, he demonstrated tactical prowess, leading his team to a deserved victory and potentially providing Bayern Munich with a blueprint for their upcoming Champions League clash with Arsenal.
Emery’s strategy involved restricting Arsenal’s left-side attack, which had been a key focus of manager Mikel Arteta’s game plan. In response to Arsenal’s early dominance, Emery adjusted his team’s formation at halftime, compacting the midfield and defense to stifle Arsenal’s attacking opportunities. This adjustment proved effective, largely due to the defensive efforts of midfielder John McGinn, who nullified Arsenal’s key attackers with expert positioning and stamina.
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If Arteta employs similar tactics in the Champions League clash, Bayern Munich could counter by deploying defensive midfielders Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka to contain Arsenal’s offensive threats.
Additionally, Emery targeted Arsenal’s weak point in their defense, specifically the left-back position. Arsenal’s struggles in this area have been evident in recent matches, prompting Emery to exploit this vulnerability by directing attacks down Arsenal’s left flank. This tactic forced Arsenal’s left-back, whether it be Jakub Kiwior or Oleksandr Zinchenko, to defend against skilled attackers, exposing defensive frailties.
With dynamic players like Leroy Sane at their disposal, Bayern Munich could exploit Arsenal’s weaknesses in defense by employing similar tactics to those used by Emery and Aston Villa.