The Top Flight
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The 5 Arsenal players who will benefit the most from Unai Emery’s sacking

By Mahith Gamage

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Lucas Torreira of Arsenal looks down during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Southampton FC at Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Lucas Torreira of Arsenal looks down during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Southampton FC at Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 27: Bernd Leno of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on October 27, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 27: Bernd Leno of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on October 27, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

#4: Bernd Leno – Goalkeeper

Now, let’s get this straight: Bernd Leno has had a great season for Arsenal. In fact, he’s had a great career at the Emirates so far, and credit has to go to Emery for bringing him in and handing him the starting role. However, Emery’s failure to shore up the Arsenal defence means that Leno has been facing a ridiculous number of shots each and every week, which was unfair for a goalkeeper so stable and consistent.

Even if Ljungberg can’t manage to fix the defence during his stint as the interim manager, you can be sure that the eventual permanent hire will have that as their #1 priority, which will seriously benefit Leno.

GUIMARAES, PORTUGAL – NOVEMBER 06: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal FC in action during the UEFA Europa League group F match between Vitoria Guimaraes and Arsenal FC at Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques on November 6, 2019 in Guimaraes, Portugal. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
GUIMARAES, PORTUGAL – NOVEMBER 06: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal FC in action during the UEFA Europa League group F match between Vitoria Guimaraes and Arsenal FC at Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques on November 6, 2019 in Guimaraes, Portugal. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images) /

#3: Nicolas Pepe – Winger

It hasn’t been the start we’ve expected from Nicolas Pepe, as the Ivorian has stuttered to just 3 goals in all competitions heading into December – with none of them coming from open play.

While he hasn’t been at his best, Emery’s awfully negative tactics and head-scratching team selections which often contained a lack of creativity meant that Pepe was often isolated and having to do more work off-the-ball than he should.

Under a new manager, who plays more positive, creative football than Emery, Pepe should thrive, and hopefully, live up to his massive price tag.

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