Joe Willock comments on Unai Emery’s passion during Arsenal’s opening weekend win

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Arsenal got a rare away win and a clean sheet on the road to boot to kick off their Premier League season, with a 1-0 victory over Newcastle.

None of the summer signings started the match, meaning that the eleven had a youthful complexion and there was a start for the promising Joe Willock.

There’s plenty of excitement over what the midfielder can do going forward but a recovery tackle he made after being bumped off the ball by Jonjo Shelvey got Unai Emery excited on the touchline.

Arsenal’s official Twitter account showed Willock Emery’s reaction – are you keeping up? – to hopefully end the viral saga, and he enjoyed the footage.

Laughing, Willock said: “So much passion. It shows how much passion the manager has for small things in the game. It’s not a goal, it’s not a chance but it’s a big thing for him and it shows.”

There’s two ways of looking at the fact that a tackle and its reaction has been picked up upon. Some rival fans may mock it, but that’s the way with football supporters.

But Arsenal fans have seen such a lack of fight, as well as excitement and passion, in recent years that a young player rolling up his sleeves away from home and a manager responding to that with such gusto is something they haven’t seen much of.

All they want to see is a squad and staff that share their passion and drive to take Arsenal forward – that’s why the clip has made such a splash.