Ray Parlour believes Unai Emery is far better than Arsene Wenger when it comes to analysing the opposition.
Emery has made a bright start to his Gunners career, having recently extended the club’s unbeaten run to 17.
Arsenal currently sit in fifth place in the Premier League, one point behind London rivals Chelsea after collecting 27 from a possible 39.
It’s generated a feel good factor around the club, particularly when travelling away from home.
And Parlour, who made 466 appearances in 13 years at Highbury, believes the Spaniard’s best achievement is being able to analyse the opposition a lot better than Wenger ever did.
“Now the weekend, [Emery] changes it. ‘Right, okay, we’re gonna go three at the back.’ And he hasn’t played that for a while. He’s been playing a flat back four, two in midfield, three behind the striker and it’s been doing really well.
“[Alexandre] Lacazette was out so he had to change personnel, [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang played up top, went with the three [at the back]. [Hector] Bellerin pushing on, [Sead] Kolasinac, who’s much better.
“I think that’s the reason he went with it, because Kolasinac is not the best defender. At left-back, when he’s playing in a four, you can get exposed.
“Now, it’s a little bit to do with Aubameyang as well, because when he plays on that left-hand side he’s not gonna run back, he’s not gonna track back, that’s not his position. But that’s where he went ‘okay, with [Ryan] Fraser and [Callum] Wilson and [Josh] King, I might have to get another body at the back and them two boys can bomb forward.’
“I like what he’s done so far.”