Henrikh Mkhitaryan has blamed Unai Emery’s tactics for his lack of attacking contributions last season. The Armenian international joined the club in January 2018 and was brought to the club by former boss Arsene Wenger. The 30-year-old is currently on loan to Serie A club Roma and made his comments regarding Emery in the December edition of the Four Four Two magazine.
“He paid more attention to tactics, so my role changed,” said Mkhitaryan. “I was starting as a winger, but had to build play with the defensive midfielder. It’s why I couldn’t contribute as many goals or assists.”
“I like to play more freely and move wherever there’s space, but you have to do the job that the manager asks. I couldn’t accept that I had to sit on the bench for some matches.” said Mkhitaryan. “I know my qualities and what I can do.”
“I’m 30 years old now and I like to play football, not just sit on the bench and waste my time. Emery and [head of football] Raul Sanllehi assured me I was important for Arsenal, but I signed for Roma because they believed in me more.”
These Arsenal supporters have sympathised with the player suggesting the manager’s mindset is far too negative for a club like Arsenal.
Emery has these man playing with shackles on. No wonder the youngsters are struggling. They want to express themselves.
— ! (@rodrigo48559712) November 15, 2019
@KelechiAFC Emery did this to iwobi but iwobi’s haters will ignore it
— Iyinoluwa Aladejebi (@Aladejeb) November 15, 2019
Emery is the only coach who wants to play defensive wingers and attacking cdms.. ? ? ?
— Emmanuel Oketokun (@EOketokun) November 15, 2019
No coincidence Micky struggled under 2 negative managers who demand their wingers to defend first, attack second.
— James Massey (@wiregooner) November 15, 2019
Mkhitaryan proved he could get loads of goals and assists at Dortmund, Iwobi never proved that.
— – (@Footballfan0108) November 15, 2019
Imagine how Pepe feels now
— Simamkele Jobela (@JobelaStar) November 15, 2019
What do we think?
Mkhitaryan made quite the name for himself in Germany during his time with Borussia Dortmund scoring 41 goals and providing 49 assists in 140 appearances. However, his time in England with both Manchester United and Arsenal was somewhat underwhelming. The Armenian captain’s Gunners contract expires at the end of next season but you suspect whether he returns to the North-London club or not is dependant on who’s sat in the dugout.