Arsenal mid-season review: Unai Emery proves fans right but January transfer overhaul surely needed

Well how about that? For all those who warned the Wenger-Out brigade ‘be careful what you wish for’ – it looks like those moaning Arsenal fans might have had a point.

While Arsene Wenger remains a genuine legend, not just of Arsenal but of the Premier League and world football in general, it’s clear that, like Jose Mourinho is finding out, even the best can become specialists in failure at some point.

So, if you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, maybe the sad truth is that it’s time to get a new dog – and it seems Arsenal were barking up the right tree when they opted for Unai Emery this summer (I’ll stop with the dog puns now, I promise).

The Spanish tactician has got off to a strong start so far, and while no one would be foolish enough to think this side is anything like the finished product, there is genuine optimism that they can do something this season, even if it is just something of a transitional year into something bigger for next term.

Here’s our half-season review of everything that’s gone on at the Emirates Stadium so far in 2018/19…

Best player

There’s a *lot* of love for summer signing Lucas Torreira, and understandably so, but we’re giving it to the lethal Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in action for Arsenal

Some question-marks surrounded the deal to bring the Gabon international in from Borussia Dortmund back in January, but he’s undoubtedly answered his critics.

Aubameyang is currently the Premier League’s top scorer with 12 goals so far this season, and on this kind of form you wouldn’t bet against him winning the Golden Boot.

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