Early substitutions have been a key characteristic of the Unai Emery era, and they’ve made quite an impact.
In fact, our replacements have contributed more combined goals and assists than any other team in the Premier League this season - but has making changes early on always been our head coach’s way?
“I learned in Spain with one coach, Javi Irureta,” Emery said. “He trained in Deportivo La Coruna and had a big career as a coach.
“[When] he was my coach, he said to us: 'When I change it is because I want some change. Maybe it is positive, maybe it is negative but [it is] change.'
“This was the first idea I received and I do in my mind. At other teams I have coached, some criticism of me was I changed usually very late. Here for example you are saying I change usually quickly.
“It depends on the moment, how the match is going, but one situation we are living here is in the first half we couldn't finish winning in the 15 matches in the Premier League. That is one reason, I need to [make changes].”
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