Pundit names one Emery decision that ‘smacks of poor leadership’

Joe Williams
Mesut Ozil Unai Emery Arsenal

Former Chelsea forward Tony Cascarino thinks Unai Emery’s “decision to start Mesut Özil against Wolves smacked of poor leadership”.

A section of supporters have turned on the Spaniard following a run of two wins from their last nine Premier League games.

Emery came in for criticism after his side allowed a lead to slip for the third time in a week as they drew 1-1 with Wolves on Saturday.

Raul Jimenez’s header earned Wolves a point at the Emirates Stadium after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s 50th Arsenal goal had put Emery’s side in charge.

Emery’s decision to substitute defensive midfielder Lucas Torreira with winger Bukayo Saka just three minutes before Jimenez scored completely altered the mood inside the stadium.

Özil started the match for the Gunners after his impressive performance against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup – but Cascarino just saw his selection as a move to “appease the Arsenal fans”.

“Unai Emery’s decision to start Mesut Özil against Wolves smacked of poor leadership,” writes Cascarino in The Times.

“If the Arsenal manager genuinely believed Özil was the man to lift his faltering team, he would have used him more than twice in the Premier League this season.

“Instead, his selection seemed motivated by a desire to appease the Arsenal fans.

“If Emery is to turn things around at the Emirates, he needs to do more than simply pick a fan favourite.”