This week last year, with an important Champions League match against Bayern Munich looming large on the horizon, Paris Saint-Germain manager Unai Emery decided to shuffle his pack.
For the long journey to struggling Strasbourg’s Stade de la Meinau, Emery boldly dropped Edinson Cavani to the bench. Marco Verratti, too. Club captain Thiago Silva did not even make the squad.
Strasbourg gratefully snatched at their chance. Goals from Nuno da Costa and Stephane Bahoken saw them run out unlikely 2-1 winners, rising to fourteenth in the Ligue 1 table. It was PSG’s first defeat of the season – and their first since a 3-1 loss to Nice on April 30, after a run of 25 matches in all competitions. Three days later and PSG lost to Bayern. Emery’s decision to rotate had backfired spectacularly.
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But, speaking ahead of Arsenal’s match against Huddersfield on Saturday, Emery claims that he does not remember the shock loss.
“I do not remember. In football, I only remember the present,” he said at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground.
1/49 Diego Godin – Atletico Madrid
The experienced defender would be a great quick-fix
Getty Images
2/49 Gianluigi Buffon – PSG
At 40, the veteran goalkeeper can still do a job at a top club
Getty
3/49 Jan Vertonghen – Tottenham
The Spurs defender is yet to agree an extension on his deal
Getty Images
4/49 Filipe Luis – Atletico Madrid
The 32-year-old would make a good addition to most side
Getty
5/49 Anthony Martial – Manchester United
United will be concerned about losing him on a free
PA
6/49 Mario Balotelli – Nice
Several clubs could do with and without a touch of Balotelli
AFP/Getty Images
7/49 David Luiz – Chelsea
The Brazilian defender could see him future elsewhere
Getty
8/49 Juan Mata – Manchester United
The former Chelsea player will be a good addition to most teams
REUTERS
9/49 Mousa Dembele – Tottenham
The commanding midfielder is reportedly already considering his options
EPA
10/49 Petr Cech – Arsenal
The experienced goalkeeper has shown glimpses that he can continue to operate at the top
AFP/Getty Images
11/49 Vincent Kompany – Manchester City
The legendary City defender has a decision to make at the end of the sesaon
AP
12/49 Olivier Giroud – Chelsea
Not the greatest goal scorer at the moment but remains a quality player
AFP/Getty
13/49 Dani Alves – PSG
Is there one final move for one of the most successful players of a generation?
AFP/Getty Images
14/49 Chris Smalling – Manchester United
Will his 31 England caps be enough to convince anyone to sign him?
AFP/Getty Images
15/49 Antonio Valencia – Manchester United
The experienced defender is unlikely to remain first choice at United
Getty
16/49 Franck Ribery – Bayern Munich
The experienced winger could be set to leave Bayern in the summer
Getty
17/49 Nacho Monreal – Arsenal
The versatile defender has been getting better each season at Arsenal
Getty Images
18/49 Daniel Strurridge – Liverpool
The injury-prone forward might be worth a gamble from a Premier League side
Getty
19/49 Gary Cahill – Chelsea
The English defender is seeking more matches as he reaches the latter part of his career
AP
20/49 Juanfran – Atletico Madrid
The seasoned defender still competes against the best in the game
Getty
21/49 Pablo Zabaleta – West Ham
When he’s not in Sky studios he can be found occasionally holding his own in the Premier League
REUTERS
22/49 Arjen Robben – Bayern Munich
Does the Dutch winger have one final move in him?
Getty
23/49 Santi Cazorla – Villarreal
The popular midfielder is making his return following a horrific injury
Getty
24/49 Aaron Ramsey – Arsenal
The Welshman and his agent has made it clear he is ready to find a new club
PA
25/49 Andrea Barzagli – Juventus
There are few trophies the experienced defender has not won
Getty Images
26/49 Adrien Rabiot – PSG
The young midfielder has caught the attention of many clubs in Europe
Getty
27/49 Fernando Torres – Sagan Tosu
The Spaniard’s time in Japan comes to an end in December 2019
Getty
28/49 Yaya Toure – Olympiacos
The powerful midfielder was touted with a move to a London club in the summer
Getty
29/49 Phil Jones – Manchester United
Patience with Jones may finally run out when his deal expires
Getty Images
30/49 Cesc Fabregas – Chelsea
Fabregas’ time at Chelsea is almost certainly up
Getty
31/49 Ashley Young – Manchester United
The defender has enjoyed a revival that has seen him return to the England squad
Getty
32/49 Ander Herrera – Manchester United
Is there room in the United midfield to keep Herrera?
PA
33/49 Andreas Pereira – Manchester United
Jose Mourinho was very complimentary towards him in pre-season
Getty
34/49 Leighton Baines – Everton
Baines is beginning to be replaced in the Everton side
35/49 Michel Vorm – Tottenham
The Spurs reserve goalkeeper will bring experience to any side
Getty Images
36/49 Danny Welbeck – Arsenal
The England forward suffered a nasty injury that could keep him out for a while
Arsenal FC via Getty
37/49 Ravel Morrison – Lazio
The 25-year-old is yet to settle at a club for a long period
Getty
38/49 Pepe – Besiktas
The 35-year-old could add experience depth somewhere
AFP/Getty Images
39/49 Mohamed Diame – Newcastle
Consistent form has been hard to come by for the powerful midfielder
Getty Images
40/49 Wes Morgan – Leicester
He captained his side to Premier League glory, which has to be worth something
Getty Images
41/49 Jakub Blaszczykowski – Wolfsburg
Once a star at Borussia Dortmund, the Polish winger’s career has slightly declined
Getty
42/49 Fernando Llorente – Tottenham
Athletic Club could offer him an early exit from Tottenham
Getty
43/49 Willy Caballero – Chelsea
The experienced goalkeeper endured a tricky World Cup but remains a solid back-up
Getty
44/49 Stephan Lichtsteiner – Arsenal
The Gunners will have to decide whether they have seen enough to keep him
PA
45/49 Ezequiel Lavezzi – Hebei China Made
The Argentine could return to Europe
AFP/Getty Images
46/49 Yacine Brahimi – Porto
Newcastle, West Ham and Everton are said to be interested in the tricky winger
Getty
47/49 Alex Teixeira – Jiangsu
Liverpool were once interested in the Brazilian forward and now rivals Everton could be keen
Getty
48/49 James Milner – Liverpool
The fine-wine of a midfielder will be a popular player for plenty of top-flight sides
Action Images via Reuters
49/49 David Ospina – Napoli
The Colombia and former Arsenal goalkeeper could be a good option
REUTERS
1/49 Diego Godin – Atletico Madrid
The experienced defender would be a great quick-fix
Getty Images
2/49 Gianluigi Buffon – PSG
At 40, the veteran goalkeeper can still do a job at a top club
Getty
3/49 Jan Vertonghen – Tottenham
The Spurs defender is yet to agree an extension on his deal
Getty Images
4/49 Filipe Luis – Atletico Madrid
The 32-year-old would make a good addition to most side
Getty
5/49 Anthony Martial – Manchester United
United will be concerned about losing him on a free
PA
6/49 Mario Balotelli – Nice
Several clubs could do with and without a touch of Balotelli
AFP/Getty Images
7/49 David Luiz – Chelsea
The Brazilian defender could see him future elsewhere
Getty
8/49 Juan Mata – Manchester United
The former Chelsea player will be a good addition to most teams
REUTERS
9/49 Mousa Dembele – Tottenham
The commanding midfielder is reportedly already considering his options
EPA
10/49 Petr Cech – Arsenal
The experienced goalkeeper has shown glimpses that he can continue to operate at the top
AFP/Getty Images
11/49 Vincent Kompany – Manchester City
The legendary City defender has a decision to make at the end of the sesaon
AP
12/49 Olivier Giroud – Chelsea
Not the greatest goal scorer at the moment but remains a quality player
AFP/Getty
13/49 Dani Alves – PSG
Is there one final move for one of the most successful players of a generation?
AFP/Getty Images
14/49 Chris Smalling – Manchester United
Will his 31 England caps be enough to convince anyone to sign him?
AFP/Getty Images
15/49 Antonio Valencia – Manchester United
The experienced defender is unlikely to remain first choice at United
Getty
16/49 Franck Ribery – Bayern Munich
The experienced winger could be set to leave Bayern in the summer
Getty
17/49 Nacho Monreal – Arsenal
The versatile defender has been getting better each season at Arsenal
Getty Images
18/49 Daniel Strurridge – Liverpool
The injury-prone forward might be worth a gamble from a Premier League side
Getty
19/49 Gary Cahill – Chelsea
The English defender is seeking more matches as he reaches the latter part of his career
AP
20/49 Juanfran – Atletico Madrid
The seasoned defender still competes against the best in the game
Getty
21/49 Pablo Zabaleta – West Ham
When he’s not in Sky studios he can be found occasionally holding his own in the Premier League
REUTERS
22/49 Arjen Robben – Bayern Munich
Does the Dutch winger have one final move in him?
Getty
23/49 Santi Cazorla – Villarreal
The popular midfielder is making his return following a horrific injury
Getty
24/49 Aaron Ramsey – Arsenal
The Welshman and his agent has made it clear he is ready to find a new club
PA
25/49 Andrea Barzagli – Juventus
There are few trophies the experienced defender has not won
Getty Images
26/49 Adrien Rabiot – PSG
The young midfielder has caught the attention of many clubs in Europe
Getty
27/49 Fernando Torres – Sagan Tosu
The Spaniard’s time in Japan comes to an end in December 2019
Getty
28/49 Yaya Toure – Olympiacos
The powerful midfielder was touted with a move to a London club in the summer
Getty
29/49 Phil Jones – Manchester United
Patience with Jones may finally run out when his deal expires
Getty Images
30/49 Cesc Fabregas – Chelsea
Fabregas’ time at Chelsea is almost certainly up
Getty
31/49 Ashley Young – Manchester United
The defender has enjoyed a revival that has seen him return to the England squad
Getty
32/49 Ander Herrera – Manchester United
Is there room in the United midfield to keep Herrera?
PA
33/49 Andreas Pereira – Manchester United
Jose Mourinho was very complimentary towards him in pre-season
Getty
34/49 Leighton Baines – Everton
Baines is beginning to be replaced in the Everton side
35/49 Michel Vorm – Tottenham
The Spurs reserve goalkeeper will bring experience to any side
Getty Images
36/49 Danny Welbeck – Arsenal
The England forward suffered a nasty injury that could keep him out for a while
Arsenal FC via Getty
37/49 Ravel Morrison – Lazio
The 25-year-old is yet to settle at a club for a long period
Getty
38/49 Pepe – Besiktas
The 35-year-old could add experience depth somewhere
AFP/Getty Images
39/49 Mohamed Diame – Newcastle
Consistent form has been hard to come by for the powerful midfielder
Getty Images
40/49 Wes Morgan – Leicester
He captained his side to Premier League glory, which has to be worth something
Getty Images
41/49 Jakub Blaszczykowski – Wolfsburg
Once a star at Borussia Dortmund, the Polish winger’s career has slightly declined
Getty
42/49 Fernando Llorente – Tottenham
Athletic Club could offer him an early exit from Tottenham
Getty
43/49 Willy Caballero – Chelsea
The experienced goalkeeper endured a tricky World Cup but remains a solid back-up
Getty
44/49 Stephan Lichtsteiner – Arsenal
The Gunners will have to decide whether they have seen enough to keep him
PA
45/49 Ezequiel Lavezzi – Hebei China Made
The Argentine could return to Europe
AFP/Getty Images
46/49 Yacine Brahimi – Porto
Newcastle, West Ham and Everton are said to be interested in the tricky winger
Getty
47/49 Alex Teixeira – Jiangsu
Liverpool were once interested in the Brazilian forward and now rivals Everton could be keen
Getty
48/49 James Milner – Liverpool
The fine-wine of a midfielder will be a popular player for plenty of top-flight sides
Action Images via Reuters
49/49 David Ospina – Napoli
The Colombia and former Arsenal goalkeeper could be a good option
REUTERS
“For me, yesterday is a long time. Instead I think about today and preparing for Saturday, because the football is happening very quickly.
“I learn from my experience and I have been in exciting moments with lots of different teams, but now I think only about the present.”
Emery has a similar conundrum on his hands this weekend. Arsenal took an impressive four points from bruising encounters with direct rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, but their success came at a price. Rob Holding ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Wednesday night’s draw at Old Trafford and, with a League Cup tie against Spurs and trip to Anfield on the horizon, Emery must decide when best to rest some of his senior players.
Huddersfield have endured a difficult start to the new season and currently sit just one point above the relegation places, although Emery was keen to stress that he was not underestimating the opposition.
Perhaps the Spaniard has learnt his lesson. He is sticking with the big guns.
“I’ve learnt in the Premier League that every team has good players, good organisation, good possibilities in the 90 minutes against every team,” he cautioned.
“On Saturday, the first thing is a very big respect, more than Manchester United, more than Tottenham, because we need a high level in our performance to win against them.
“They are going to push a lot and [will want] a surprise. We are very convinced in our way – work, prepare, respect, push with our supporters at the Emirates and feel the spirit with them.”
Expected Arsenal line-up (3-4-3): Leno; Mustafi, Sokratis, Monreal; Bellerin, Torreira, Xhaka, Kolasinac; Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
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