Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit suggests current crop lack tactical intelligence

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Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit believes the club’s current crop of players don’t have the intelligence to cope with tactical and system changes.

The Frenchman was speaking to The Mirror and giving his thoughts on the Gunners’ start to the new season.

Unai Emery’s side have picked up six points from their first three matches, and lost last time out against Liverpool at Anfield.

The former Paris Saint-Germain manager was criticised for setting his team up with a narrow diamond in midfield against the Reds’ marauding full-backs, and Petit has expressed his concerns about the players’ ability to adapt.

He said: “Emery is trying different ­tactical systems all the time, moving players around ­different positions.

“I can see the sense in this, but only a small percentage of footballers are intelligent enough to be comfortable in different positions and tactical set-up.”

TBR’s view

Emery has to be admired for wanting to use different systems to try and outwit his opponents.

He got it wrong against Liverpool, who are always going to punish teams who don’t set up right at Anfield.

Arsenal have some supremely talented players in their squad, but there are also a lot of youngsters who will need time to develop.

Right now, as Petit suggests, maybe that tactical nous isn’t quite there for some, but regular game time will help.