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Arsenal news: Unai Emery will soon have Antonio Conte Chelsea moment - Andy Townsend
ARSENAL boss Unai Emery will soon have a lightbulb moment and change his approach to matches - just how Antonio Conte did at Chelsea.
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That is according to BBC Sport pundit and former Chelsea midfielder Andy Townsend.
Arsenal boss Emery lost his first game in charge on Sunday 2-0 to Manchester City.
Apart from the defence and goalkeeper playing out from the back, there was no apparent change to the way the Gunners set up from last season.
But Townsend says Emery will give it a few games before making a change, similar to how Conte did at Chelsea two years ago.
There was that game up at Hull when he went ‘listen, I’m going back three, I’m doing what I do. I’m doing what I do’
Conte initially struggled at Chelsea but after a 3-0 loss to Arsenal, the Italian switched to his familiar 3-4-3 formation for the next game at Hull.
The change worked as the Blues won the next 13 games and went on to win the Premier League title.
And Townsend reckons Emery will remove players from his starting XI who do not adapt to his style.
“Antonio Conte, when he came in to Chelsea, he went with kind of what was already happening,” Townsend said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Then there was that game up at Hull when he went ‘listen, I’m going back three, I’m doing what I do. I’m doing what I do’.
“I think Unai Emery will have a moment like that probably quite soon.
“He’s had a good look, had a good look, he’s assessing people and letting them play in positions that are comfortable for them.
“Then all of a sudden he will go ‘right, we’re now going to do this, and if you’re not going to do it, ta ta’.”
Arsenal's next game is against Chelsea this Saturday at Stamford Bridge (5.30pm).
It will be Maurizio Sarri's first home game in charge of the Blues.
He won his opening Premier League match last Saturday 3-0 at Huddersfield.