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Ian Wright was ‘very surprised’ by ‘strange’ Unai Emery decision at Liverpool vs Arsenal
Arsenal legend does not understand why his former side went with a diamond in midfield in the Premier League clash at Liverpool.
Arsenal vs Liverpool: Emery reacts to 3-1 defeat
Ian Wright admits he was “very surprised” by the way Arsenal set up against Liverpool on Saturday.
Liverpool beat Unai Emery’s side 3-1 at Anfield, ending the Gunners’ 100 per cent start to the season and continuing theirs.
Emery went with a diamond formation in midfield but, analysing the highlights on Match of the Day, Wright says it was a strange decision by the head coach.
Wright said: “I was very surprised for them to play the diamond, arguably giving up space to two of the best full-backs in Europe. It was a strange one.
I was very surprised for them to play the diamond, arguably giving up space to two of the best full-backs in Europe
“I wanted to see the three guys playing up top, it didn’t happen.
“When we look at it here, we can see the diamond, there it is, and then the space.
“We’re talking about, like I say, Liverpool, he was actually laughing when he was saying it [Jurgen] Klopp because he couldn’t believe it either.
“You see where the space is, we know what these two are capable of, 18 crosses in open play between them and you give them this kind of space, you’ve got problems.
Arsenal SLAMMED by pundit after Liverpool defeat
“You see them backing off there, it’s a great cross, [Roberto] Firmino just misses out on it.
“There they are again, there’s the diamond, there’s the space and then [Matteo] Guendouzi doesn’t know what to do, [Ainsley] Maitland-Niles doesn’t know what to do and, again, Andy Robertson untold space to cross the ball in. It was happening all of the time.
“You see Trent Alexander-Arnold there, Joe Willock and [Nacho] Monreal are not sure what to do, Henderson gives them both a problem, Joe Willock should be going outside to him, Monreal should be dropping back, it doesn’t happen and in the end Trent Alexander has all that time and space.
“Look at that space to play a ball in there. That’s where the penalty comes from.”