New formation for Arsenal but by the end Emery’s men were just a spluttering rabble

IN Arsene Wenger’s later years, Arsenal usually started to unravel by the end of November. Under Unai Emery, the Gunners have started early this season. Under-fire Emery went with a diamond formation against Wolves and watched his team booed off after only just clinging on for a draw.

By the end, they were a rabble and if Emery knew what formation they were playing by that point, nobody else did – including most of his players. It was the third time in six days Arsenal have coughed up a lead and the 25 shots they faced were the most they have given up at home all season. At times, they could barely get out of their own half and did not manage a single shot on target after the 32nd minute.

They took the lead against the run of play when standin skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck his 50th goal for the club.

But it was all downhill after that, with Raul Jimenez heading home a Joao Moutinho cross after Dani Ceballos went to sleep at a throw-in.

Gunners fans let Emery know just what they thought of it all at the final whistle and the pressure is mounting on the Spaniard’s shoulders.

After losing at Sheffield United, Arsenal were lucky to beat Vitoria in the Europa League.

They then threw away a two-goal lead at home to Crystal Palace and went out of the Carabao Cup at Liverpool on penalties.

Emery (right) has also tried just about every formation under the sun, everything that is barring the three-man backline that worked so well for him at times towards the end of last season.

So don’t expect the diamond to be forever. But there is the big problem. Emery does not know his best team, let alone his best formation. And his players look confused.

Former Gunners great Robin van Persie watched a video of Emery training them recently and concluded he could not understand a word the Spaniard was talking about.

And the manager did not sound too convinced when he was asked whether he thought his players get his instructions when he replied: “I think they understand.”

Confusion seems to run right through the club.

Arsenal’s players got to vote on the captaincy, with five ending up in a leadership group. But Granit Xhaka, who sat this one out after apologising to fans he says made him reach “boiling point” by abusing his family, claims he was told in the summer he would be skipper.

Aubameyang was the fifth different player to wear the armband this season and Emery hinted afterwards he might keep it – only adding to the uncertainty.

Even Mesut Ozil has worn it and he has been frozen out for most of the campaign. Emery clearly wants the £350,000-a-week misfit gone, but cannot afford to do without him right now.

Given the unrest, it’s a miracle Arsenal are so high up the table. But the chasing pack are catching them and Emery knows Arsenal are expected to be top-four contenders.

Roll on Wednesday and the Europa League rematch with Vitoria, because at this rate that competition looks a more likely route back to the Champions League.