Expectations from Emery's first season, 2018/19

[tap-in]

Nothing has changed, top 4 is still a bloody good achievement and gets you in the biggest team competition on the planet. When we achieved top 4 every season it got to a point when some were seeing it as a failure for not winning the PL, ok the Leicester season we should have but generally we were doing well getting top 4 and that needs to be our aim again, then we can think about going for the title. Maybe some only appreciate what they have after its been taken away, like cheating on Shakira & waking up next to Susan Boyle!

 

[Makingtrax]

Sorry Trax, pretty difficult to spot in that post of mine but I was being facestious and meant no harm.
I was 'infected' by my uncle but we missed my brother. Any tips to convert a lost soul who landed up being a Pool fan?

Think that’s a lost cause bro.

 

[Mark Tobias]

Think that’s a lost cause bro.

Fecking tragedy. Oh well.

 

[carter777]

Anal magazine. This season is going to be............interesting

 

[Vantastico]

I figure Emery will play with a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2.

Leno, Bellerin, Mustafi, Sokratis, Monreal in defense with Xhaka and Toreira as DM's, and any combination of Özil/Mhki/Ramsey playing behind Aubameyang/Lacazatte.

We need Leno to look for quick outlet passes to Xhaka every single time, like the Swiss keeper Sommer was doing against Serbia. This would set Xhaka up to link up with Özil quickly right down the middle of the lane, or link up with our wingers/full-backs to keep it wide.

(I'll admit: I just don't wanna see Mustafi on the ball).

I expect El Nenny and Maitland Niles to be our only other options as far as holding midfielders go, and I think that's fine. I dont know whether Iwobi and Welbeck are good enough but they're our only attacking options off the bench.

Given that Emery will need next season to assess squad performance, I think he'll wait till next summer to make any drastic changes.

That being said, I still am really hoping for an exciting attacking signing or a Reiss Nelson break-out. It really depends on whether or not Ramsey stays, which in turn either means he's guaranteed to be a starter and Reiss will serve as his back-up, or he'll needs to be replaced and we go for a new winger with potential.

Either way, given the massive wages our starting XI are earning, I can't see us make any signings added on top of our current squad (barring any funds from sales..looking at Welbeck, Chambers and Mustafi).

 

[Mark Tobias]

That being said, I still am really hoping for an exciting attacking signing or a Reiss Nelson break-out. .

Given that we have lobbed out 100M for PEA and Laca in the last 12 months I highly doubt you're going to see a signing. Took us like 7 years to replace RVP now you want another attacking signing in less than a year. Don't be greedy

 

[grange]

That magazine cover is amazing. Adds a little extra to Up the Arsenal, imo.

 

[Nyctophobia]

When it comes to expectations, what I would like to see during this season (or at least signs of) is two things: consistency and beating at least a few of the other top teams and then whatever position we land on in the end will be fine as long as it's top six.

I want to see an Arsenal team that doesn't make the same mistakes over and over, that can beat the teams we should be beating and compete with the best.

If nothing else I just want to see effort, if I see that we're really trying and we're not sticking with things that don't work, I think I'll be happy because over time we will only become better and better.

 

[Mark Tobias]

Well I am sure @MutableEarth and @hydrofluoric acid were please with the below comment when talking about anymore possible incomings

'Normally, we are thinking about the young players, the possibility of them staying with us or going to play on loan at another team.'

 

[GunnerUK]

Think we all know first 2 games is a massive indication how our season goes.

If we beat both Chelsea and City I’ll Immediately think we can win the league

 

[GoonerJeeves]

I hope we'll be a bit more defensively sound. Apart from that, i am not sure what to expect really

 

[truth_hurts]

I just want a playing style and identity this year. Top 6 minimum and cups runs. I expect to compete in 19/20

 

[Dregen57]

As I said earlier were going to win the title

 

[Lidl_Reed]

Top four imo.

I think we'll struggle against the top teams, but dispatch the rest easily.

If City run away with it, or someone gets 90+ points, we're going to be nowhere near the title.

If the title winners have around 80-85 points, we might challenge

 

[Jae]

I would LIKE top 4, but I think that is unrealistic. I EXPECT (as a bare minimum) to see improvement in the performances, particularly the defensive solidarity of the team.

 

[SA Gunner]

The more I think about it, and the amount of work required to settle us in, the more I suspect that this next season is probably a write off.

I say so for two reasons. Firstly, all our players need to adapt to Emery's style of play. Secondly, there's likely to be players who wont be able to adapt accordingly. Which would need us to rebuild and re-settle.

Fifth or sixth place for me this season, if it comes together in time... possibly fourth place.

 

[Batman]

I can see us finishing 4th. Liverpool have strengthened but they're so dependent on that front 3 putting up crazy numbers and that's hard to do year in year out. Spuds have been punching above their weight and may well take a step back. Chelsea have left it really late to sort out their managerial situation and have plenty of question marks. United have a lunatic capable of losing the dressing room at any moment leading them. I think that we have the best striker pairing in the PL and frankly we were so neglected in terms of drilling the basics in our players that I can absolutely see us doing enough to get back into the CL places.

 

[Lakersgooner24]

Tangible goals:
-Top 5 (am expecting to surpass Chelsea this year, considering their situation) with a top 4 challenge & better away record than last season’s embarrassment
-SF+* in EL (given Emery’s track record in the competition)
-QF+* in FA Cup & League Cup

*depends on draw, but generally expecting to reach those targets

Intangible goals:
-Identity (development of a clear and defined style of play)
-Adjustments (tactical adjustments pregame & during the match, not making subs for the sake of it, being quick to realize what is working and what is not and not being afraid to make tough decisions)
-Character (no mental collapses and ****ting the bed, goes in hand in hand with the next point)
-Defensive stability and cohesion
-Consistency as the season progresses
-Continuing integration and development of our youth (looking forward to bigger roles for the likes of AMN and a step up from Iwobi)

Thought I was asking for too much, but on reflection, don’t think improvements in the aforementioned areas are unreasonable. If not possible by this season, definitive improvements is a must next season.

 

[Sanchez11]

Were competing with chelsea and spuds for 4th, possibly utd if jose has a meltdown we will see. I have said before this is a huge rebuilding job and to think otherwise is naive imo

 

[Artisan]

I think people are being too eager to relieve pressure off the new manager, as if they expect him to fail. Top four should be minimum expectation. Just as it was for Liverpool and even Tottenham to a lesser degree when they were out of it.
Now I'm not suggesting we fire him if we barely miss out on it, but presumably we replaced Wenger because he had massively underachieved result wise with this team, it's up to the new manager to get them to play to their potential and I think if he does we have more than enough to be aiming higher than just competing for top four personally.

If we were fine with languishing out of top four for years, we might as well have bet on Arteta afterall in case he became a top manager.