Arsenal sack Unai Emery: Manager leaves after 18 months in charge

[Mamoon]

We announce today that the decision has been taken to part company with our head coach Unai Emery and his coaching team.

Speaking on behalf of the Arsenal board and our owners Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, Josh Kroenke said: “Our most sincere thanks go to Unai and his colleagues who were unrelenting in their efforts to get the club back to competing at the level we all expect and demand. We wish Unai and his team nothing but future success.”

The decision has been taken due to results and performances not being at the level required.

We have asked Freddie Ljungberg to take responsibility for the first team as interim head coach. We have full confidence in Freddie to take us forward.

The search for a new head coach is underway and we will make a further announcement when that process is complete.

https://www.arsenal.com/news/unai-emery-leaves-club

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: Arsenal have announced that they have sacked head coach Unai Emery.</p>— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1200356420501344256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Mamoon]

All praise to the Almighty.

 

[topspin]

View attachment 97427

All praise to the Almighty.

Thank God, the board finally found their testicular fortitude to put him out of his misery.

Goodbye and Good Ebening

 

[KingKhanWC]

Unless they have 3 year plan or willing to spend 2/300 million it won’t do anything with a squad full of average players .

It will be years before arsenal compete for the league but getting rid of Emery is a start , he was clueless lol

 

[Mamoon]

Really wish the board would have acted two weeks ago and roped in Mourinho.

Things are looking grim as far as the replacements are concerned. Maybe waiting till the summer and trying hard for Arteta, Allegri etc. appears to be the pragmatic option.

 

[MenInG]

Unai Emery has been sacked as Arsenal manager after 18 months in charge.

The Spaniard, who previously led Paris St-Germain to the French league title and won three Europa Leagues with Sevilla, was appointed Gunners boss in May 2018, succeeding Arsene Wenger.

He has been replaced on a temporary basis by assistant and former Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg.

Arsenal said the decision had been "taken due to results and performances not being at the level required".

The Gunners have not won in seven games and lost 2-1 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League on Thursday.

It is their worst competitive run without a victory since February 1992, which was eight games under George Graham.

They are without a Premier League victory since 6 October and eight points off the top four.

Ljungberg took training on Friday and the Arsenal statement added: "We have full confidence in Freddie to take us forward.

"The search for a new head coach is under way and we will make a further announcement when that process is complete."

On Wednesday, BBC Sport reported Arsenal had identified Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo as a potential replacement for Emery.

Other names linked with the post include former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, Manchester City assistant coach Mikel Arteta, ex-Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri and Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe.

The Arsenal Supporters' Trust (AST) said Emery's dismissal was "unfortunate but inevitable" and the "more difficult challenge is to recruit a suitable successor".

It added: "We are far from certain that Arsenal has the right personnel to lead this process.

"The AST has long been advocating that the most important changes needed at Arsenal are in the boardroom where Arsenal need better governance."

Arsenal finished fifth in 48-year-old Emery's first season in charge at Emirates Stadium after he replaced Wenger.

They went into this season having spent more than £130m in the summer after signing winger Nicolas Pepe, centre-back David Luiz, left-back Kieran Tierney, striker Gabriel Martinelli and defender William Saliba, who will join next summer.

The club also brought in midfielder Dani Ceballos on loan from Real Madrid.

They started this season with back-to-back victories against Newcastle and Burnley, but that run ended with defeat by Liverpool, before draws with north London rivals Tottenham and Watford followed.

Their last Premier League victory was a 1-0 win over Bournemouth.

On Saturday, they battled to a 2-2 draw - their sixth of the season - at home to Southampton, with Alexandre Lacazette scoring an injury-time equaliser.

Arsenal have conceded 19 goals in 13 top-flight games this season and former Gunners keeper Bob Wilson said the team's defensive statistics were "frightening".

"The interesting thing is every successful side starts with the defence," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Look at Liverpool and them spending millions [£75m] on Virgil van Dijk, who has made their defence solid.

"They [Arsenal] are shipping goals and don't seem to have any idea of the defensive structure."

Emery is the third managerial dismissal in the English top flight this season, after Javi Gracia and Pochettino departed Watford and Tottenham respectively.

Arsenal's last victory came against Vitoria Guimaraes in the Europa League on 24 October, in which they needed two late Pepe free-kicks to secure a 3-2 win.


https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50532493

 

[Captain caveman]

Heard some rumours arsenal want dean smith of villa as their new coach, dont know if theres any truth in the rumour.

 

[MenInG]

Poll added about who will be next boss for Arsenal.

 

[MenInG]

Arsenal are searching for a new manager, having sacked Unai Emery on Friday.

The north London club sunk to new lows under Emery on Thursday evening as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat at home to Eintracht Frankfurt with a record-low crowd at the Emirates Stadium.

The squad were informed at around 9am on Friday and former Arsenal winger Freddie Ljungberg has now taken charge on an interim basis. He is a front runner for the full-time role, as is Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

Former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, who was replaced at Spurs by Jose Mourinho last week, has also been mooted for the role in what would be a hugely controversial appointment.

Arsenal could also turn to former assistant coach and club captain Mikel Arteta – who now works as Pep Guardiola’s no.2 at Manchester City.

Arteta nearly landed the role following Arsene Wenger’s before Emery was handed the reins.

But who else is in contention for the manager’s role at Arsenal? Here are the 20 managers who could replace Unai Emery as Arsenal manager, according to SportNation.

Ljungberg could takeover as Arsenal boss for the remainder of the season

Next Arsenal Manager

Freddie Ljungberg (Interim boss)

Nuno Espirito Santo (Wolves)

Mauricio Pochettino (former Tottenham boss)

Mikel Arteta (Man City assistant)

Carlo Ancelotti (Napoli)

Rafa Benitez (Dalian Yifang)

Massimiliano Allegri (former Juventus boss)

Patrick Vieira (Nice)

Eddie Howe (Bournemouth)

Brendan Rodgers (Leicester)

https://talksport.com/football/636169/unai-emery-odds-arsenal-ljungberg-pochettino-ancelotti/

 

[MenInG]

Arsenal's decision to sack Unai Emery after only 18 months in charge is another example of a club and a manager failing in the almost impossible task of plotting the succession of a legend.

Manchester United are the extreme example - when Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down after 26 years and 38 trophies he was followed by the flawed choice of David Moyes, out of his depth and dismissed after 10 months.

Emery arrived in May 2018 to succeed Arsene Wenger - who had been at Arsenal for 22 years - with a track record of European success with Sevilla and domestic titles with Paris St Germain, but has failed to move the club out of the Frenchman's shadow.

So how has it all gone wrong for Emery and Arsenal?

Spoiler

Emery failed to cure Arsenal flaws
Wenger's time was up at Arsenal - few would argue with that despite a magnificent career which brought three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups and the domestic Double in 1998 and 2002.

Emirates Stadium had become a toxic arena with public displays of disaffection for the great manager as Arsenal languished in the shadow of Liverpool, Manchester City and others in the fight for domestic supremacy.

Emery, with his record of three successive Europa League wins at Sevilla and titles with PSG, emerged ahead of Mikel Arteta at the last moment as the man to clear the air, to move Arsenal out of Wenger's giant shadow and plot a route forward.

He failed on all counts. There were shafts of light, such as a 22-match unbeaten run last season and a Europa League final appearance when Arsenal were heavily beaten by Chelsea, but all dawns were false.

Emery, for all his pedigree, never got to grips with the task and the biggest condemnation is that all Arsenal's obvious and long-standing flaws remained as unaddressed on the day he left as when he arrived.

Arsenal, under Wenger, were infamous for their soft centre and propensity for collapsing under pressure, especially away from Emirates Stadium. Emery never got near solving this problem.

And the stats were painful. Arsenal's current seven-game winless streak which saw Emery off was their worst since February 1992 under George Graham. Wenger took charge of 1,235 matches but never suffered this.

Arsenal won exactly the same number of points (88) in Emery's 51 games as they did in Wenger's last 51. He leaves with them eighth, 19 points behind leaders Liverpool and eight points off the Champions League places.

Emery built his Arsenal on suspect foundations: the summer signing of David Luiz from Chelsea to allegedly add defensive stability as heavily laced with irony as it was with risk.

The signing of Matteo Guendouzi, the 20-year-old French midfielder, was an early success but this summer's £72m record signing from Lille, Nicolas Pepe, has failed to deliver while Kieran Tierney arrived from Celtic injured and has so far struggled to get going.

In short this has been, as the fans used to sing in happier times, "Same old Arsenal" - but not in a good way.

Arsenal had firepower in the shape of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but even their threat could not compensate for Emery's failure to stiffen Arsenal's resolve.

Quite simply, Arsenal remained just as soft as they were under Wenger. In the 2-2 draw at Watford earlier this season, the Hornets attempted 31 shots on target, the highest the Gunners have faced since Opta starting compiling such statistics in 2003-04.

Emery's away record, as it had been before in his career, was abysmal and showed no signs of improving. Arsenal won seven and lost eight of their 19 games last season and this season have won one of six.

It was an acute case of travel sickness. Emery had no cure - and ultimately paid with his job.

It is one of the cheapest shots in the book to mock a manager's command of English when he arrives in the Premier League - and Emery made every effort to communicate in that manner from the moment he arrived at Arsenal.

There is no question, however, that Emery struggled to get his message across to players and supporters, not only making life difficult on the training ground but also in establishing a connection with fans, so important for a new manager, especially one who was almost ingrained in the bricks and mortar of Arsenal as Wenger was.

He was, however, professional and the model of dignity at all times, even under fierce questioning.

Emery's strategy and communication was also flawed elsewhere, notably when it came to selecting a new captain to succeed the departed Laurent Koscielny.

Instead of being decisive and naming his captain, he ended with a botched players' vote that elected Granit Xhaka, a divisive figure among fans as both a personality and player who had failed to justify a £35m fee when he arrived from Borussia Monchenglabach in May 2016.

It was an accident waiting to happen and duly arrived in October when Xhaka was involved in an angry confrontation with fans when he was substituted in the 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace, exposing Emery's selection process and undermining the manager further.

Xhaka, ironically, was rehabilitated in Emery's final defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt but his bust-up with fans came as the credits were rolling for the Spaniard.

Emery also had a fractured relationship with Arsenal's maverick superstar Mesut Ozil, although this was understandable given the lack of return on the German's reported £350,000-a-week contract.

Arsenal's fans also fell out of love with Ozil - but then used his absence as another stick to beat a manager who tried his best but never convinced.

This, along with bad results, players who were clearly disengaged from the manager's approach, and growing fan anger, created a perfect storm around Emery that he could never clear.

Emery must take much of the responsibility but he was operating at a club that looks like it is suffering from terminal inertia under owner Stan Kroenke.

Kroenke is almost an absentee owner, seemingly unwilling to invest the sums needed to compete with others chasing the big prizes, although his son Josh has communicated with supporters and addressed concerns.

Against this backdrop of inaction, will a new Arsenal manager actually change anything unless the board alters its approach?

How was Ozil awarded such an eye-watering contract given his known inconsistency? Why - and this was a hugely damaging decision - was Aaron Ramsey allowed to leave on a free transfer to join Juventus, despite his insistence he thought he had agreed a new deal?

Between Emery and Arsenal's hierarchy, the club has been allowed to become dysfunctional and the manager's number was up - if it was not already - once there were thousands upon thousands of empty seats at Emirates Stadium for Thursday's Europa League game.

Arsenal are in a mess and the concerns of supporters were voiced as recently as Sunday when a number of prominent supporters' groups united to issue a statement calling for "urgent action" to halt the "alarming and desperate state of things."

A petition started in the summer expressing similar sentiments garnered 120,000 signatures.

The urgent action demanded has been delivered.

As well as Arsenal's board, pressure will now mount on former star and technical director Edu and particularly on Head of Football Raul Sanllehi, the latter already a target for fans' frustration. Their reputations are also on the line.

Emery has gone - but he is not the sole culprit and it will take a sea-change in ambition and standards behind the scenes to provide the re-invigoration Arsenal supporters demand from the Kroenke regime.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50602948

 

[Mamoon]

You have to feel sorry whenever a manager is sacked. Emery is a good manager and a good man - he will not be short of offers from Spain. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the right man to turn arsenal into title contenders again.

 

[ExplicitAI]

Really wish the board would have acted two weeks ago and roped in Mourinho.

Things are looking grim as far as the replacements are concerned. Maybe waiting till the summer and trying hard for Arteta, Allegri etc. appears to be the pragmatic option.

I don't think Mourinho is a good choice since he has a reputation of damaging strikers and being too heavy on defence (not a bad thing) but I don't think he can replicate the same success he had back in the day with Chelsea (2004 and 2nd term).

 

[IMMY69]

My choices in order of pref,

1. Poch
2. Allegri
3. Howe
4. Rogers

 

[MenInG]

Patrick Vieira is the "right man" to become Arsenal boss, according to former Gunners goalkeeper David Seaman.

Arsenal are starting their search for a new manager for only the second time in 23 years after sacking Unai Emery.

And ex-Gunners captain Vieira, now manager of Nice, could be a candidate.

"I am sure Arsenal fans would love Patrick to come back to the club. Knowing Patrick, I think he would be the right man," Seaman told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily Podcast.

"I knew what he was like as a player. I knew what he was like as a captain. He was a born leader and everybody knows that. Maybe go down that route instead of a tried and tested route."

Freddie Ljungberg, 42, is the caretaker boss but Seaman says he hopes his former team-mate does not get the job.

"This job is much bigger than what Freddie is used to at the moment," said the ex-England international.

"He has only just got into the coaching side of the game and he will be really avant-garde as a manager but while he is taking charge now, please try and get some sort of defensive formation sorted out."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50601413

 

[Hasan123]

This is the right decision. No style of play, falling out with players , consistently changing formations , and poor communication all played a part in his down fall.

The next manager needs to be an elite one or a unproven like Arteta or Freddie. These in between coaches won't get us challenging.

 

[topspin]

Poll added about who will be next boss for Arsenal.

Thanks MIG.

Can you rename it to "who should suceed .... for Arsenal" rather than "who will succeed ... for Arsenal".

 

[MenInG]

Thanks MIG.

Can you rename it to "who should suceed .... for Arsenal" rather than "who will succeed ... for Arsenal".

Thanks will fix

 

[MenInG]

Patrick Vieira is the "right man" to become Arsenal boss, according to former Gunners goalkeeper David Seaman.

Arsenal are starting their search for a new manager for only the second time in 23 years after sacking Unai Emery.

And ex-Gunners captain Vieira, now manager of Nice, could be a candidate.

"I am sure Arsenal fans would love Patrick to come back to the club. Knowing Patrick, I think he would be the right man," Seaman told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily Podcast.

"I knew what he was like as a player. I knew what he was like as a captain. He was a born leader and everybody knows that. Maybe go down that route instead of a tried and tested route."

Freddie Ljungberg, 42, is the caretaker boss but Seaman says he hopes his former team-mate does not get the job.

"This job is much bigger than what Freddie is used to at the moment," said the ex-England international.

"He has only just got into the coaching side of the game and he will be really avant-garde as a manager but while he is taking charge now, please try and get some sort of defensive formation sorted out."

What have Vieira and Ljungberg done in management so far? Who are the other candidates? BBC Sport takes a look.

What went wrong for Emery?
Massimiliano Allegri
Current job: Unemployed

Previous teams managed: Aglianese, SPAL, Grosseto, Lecco, Sassuolo, Cagliari, AC Milan, Juventus

Major trophies won: 6 Serie A titles, 4 Italian Cups, 3 Italian Super Cups

The most successful manager on this list in recent years, the 52-year-old Italian won Serie A in all his five seasons with Juventus - with four of those titles part of domestic doubles - before leaving in May.

He also led Juventus to two Champions League finals, losing to Barcelona in 2015 and Real Madrid in 2017.

Allegri, who won a Serie A title with AC Milan as well, has never worked outside Italy before.

"I have heard Allegri mentioned," said Seaman. "He still has problems with the English language and that is another problem that Emery had. The way he came over and in the press, I used to see him on the sidelines when he was waving his arms and shouting and not many players were looking at him."

Nuno Espirito Santo
Current job: Wolves head coach

Previous teams managed: Rio Ave, Valencia, Porto

Major trophies won: None

Portuguese Nuno, 45, has built up a fantastic reputation in two and a half seasons with Wolves. He helped the West Midlands club to the Championship title in his first season, before guiding them into Europe for the first time since 1980 - playing some excellent football on the way.

In his first managerial job he led Rio Ave to two cup finals in Portugal, although they lost both - and into Europe for the first time. He has also managed Valencia - where he was replaced by Gary Neville after resigning - and Porto, although he is yet to win any major trophies.

Fredrik Ljungberg
Current job: Arsenal interim head coach

Previous teams managed: None

Major trophies won: None

Swede Ljungberg, 42, has the least managerial experience on this list - but the most Arsenal pedigree. He played 214 times for the Gunners, scoring 46 times, and winning two Premier League titles including their unbeaten 2003-04 campaign.

He is yet to manage a senior team, but has been manager of Arsenal's Under-15s and Under-23s - either side of a six-month spell as Wolfsburg assistant boss. He had been assistant to Emery since the summer - and steps up to take caretaker charge.

The stats behind Emery's downfall
Mikel Arteta
Current job: Manchester City assistant coach

Previous teams managed: None

Major trophies won: None

The 37-year-old Spaniard was considered a certainty to get the Arsenal job when Arsene Wenger left in 2018 until their sudden appointment of Unai Emery.

Arteta played 150 times for Arsenal, captaining the side, before retiring and becoming assistant to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola - a job he has held since 2016.

Mauricio Pochettino
Current job: Unemployed

Previous teams managed: Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham

Major trophies won: None

The 47-year-old Argentine was sacked by Arsenal's arch-rivals Tottenham last week after five and a half years in charge - having transformed their fortunes. Spurs qualified for the Champions League four times under Pochettino, having only played in two European Cup campaigns in their history beforehand.

His teams play with a good footballing style, but he has yet to win a trophy as a manager - losing last season's Champions League final to Liverpool.

Arsenal are not in a 'good moment' - Unai Emery
Eddie Howe
Current job: Bournemouth manager

Previous teams managed: Burnley

Major trophies won: None

The 42-year-old Englishman is a legend at Bournemouth, having led them from the League Two relegation zone to becoming an established Premier League team.

His teams have a fantastic style of football but the only concern is he has yet to win a trophy or have success at another club - he had 18 unmemorable months at Burnley in between two spells at Bournemouth.

Rafael Benitez
Current job: Dalian Yifang manager

Previous teams managed: Real Valladolid, Osasuna, Extremadura, Tenerife, Valencia, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Napoli, Real Madrid, Newcastle

Major trophies won: Champions League, 2 Europa League/Uefa, 2 La Liga, FA Cup, Italian Cup, Fifa Club World Cup, Uefa Super Cup, Community Shield, Italian Super Cup

The 59-year-old Spaniard has won major trophies in three different countries - England, Spain and Italy, most famously winning the 2005 Champions League with Liverpool.

He left Newcastle at the end of the season and joined Dalian Yifang in China, but recently told BBC Sport he would like to return to the Premier League one day, with his family still living in England.

Carlo Ancelotti
Current job: Napoli manager

Previous teams managed: Reggiana, Parma, Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris St-Germain, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich

Major trophies won: 3 Champions Leagues, Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, FA Cup, Italian Cup, Spanish Cup, 3 Uefa Super Cups, 2 German Super Cups, Community Shield, Italian Super Cup

The 60-year-old Italian is one of only three men to win three European Cups as a manager. He has won major trophies in all of Europe's top five leagues - including an FA Cup with Chelsea.

He is under pressure at Napoli after seven games without a win - with problems between club president Aurelio de Laurentiis and the players creating headlines.

Erik ten Hag
Current job: Ajax head coach

Previous teams managed: Go Ahead Eagles, Utrecht

Major trophies won: Eredivisie, Dutch Cup, Dutch Super Cup

The 49-year-old Dutchman is a hot property after leading an exhilarating Ajax to the Champions League semi-final last season - his first full campaign in charge. They ended up winning the Dutch double.

He managed Go Ahead Eagles, Bayern Munich's reserve team and Utrecht before joining Ajax - where he has an impressive win rate of 75% - in December 2017.

Brendan Rodgers
'We're at the start of something special here' - Brendan Rodgers plays down speculation
Current job: Leicester City manager

Previous teams managed: Watford, Reading, Swansea, Liverpool, Celtic

Major trophies won: 2 Scottish Premierships, 2 Scottish Cups, 3 Scottish League Cups

The 46-year-old Northern Irishman has taken Leicester to second place in the Premier League after a run of six wins in a row in all competitions.

Guarantees good football and almost led Liverpool to the Premier League title before winning every Scottish trophy on offer and then leaving for Leicester. Would have to drop six places and 11 points down the table if he were to join Arsenal.

"One that really sticks out for me is Brendan Rodgers," said former Arsenal goalkeeper Seaman. "But would he trade that in for Leicester because of what he has created there?"

Patrick Vieira
Current job: Nice manager

Previous teams managed: New York City FC

Major trophies won: None

The 43-year-old Frenchman is an Arsenal legend, playing 371 times for the club and winning three Premier League titles. His first coaching job was with Manchester City's youth team before joining their sister club New York City in the MLS.

Moved to French side Nice at the start of last season but has yet to make a real impact and they sit three points above the relegation zone.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50601413

 

[MenInG]

Gary Neville: Unai Emery let down by 'truly pathetic' recruitment policy as Arsenal head coach

Arsenal board must avoid 'sacking another manager in 12 to 18 months', Neville tells Sky Sports


It's always sad when a coach loses his job, and irrespective of the result it's always a massive problem when the fans don't turn up, for a manager. I remember a few years ago, I went to a Manchester United game on a Tuesday night, and there must have been about 55,000 inside Old Trafford.

I thought at that moment, that was probably the time Louis van Gaal lost his job because if fans don't turn up, the board will act on that. The performances and results haven't been great, it's always a reflection on the board and sporting directors, the succession planning for Arsene Wenger hasn't succeeded. We've seen it at other clubs and in some ways it's unsurprising, it was always difficult for someone to come in after such a long time.

Spoiler

He's been disrespected at times in the last few weeks, his accent and manner have been ridiculed, that was quite unsavoury, the reality is he's a top coach who couldn't find his way in this particular job. My feeling is sadness obviously, as a man's just lost his coaching role today.

It's been messy. The goal last week that we highlighted on Monday Night Football, that one where David Luiz was stepping up against Southampton, we've seen [Shkodran] Mustafi, we've seen Sokratis [Papastathopoulos] too let's be clear - these defenders are uncoachable, some of them.

I don't know who's been responsible for recruitment over the last two or three years, they've chopped and changed, there have been new people brought in. But if I was in the boardroom at Arsenal I'd be giving them a right rocket. There's no way Emery is telling David Luiz to step up two or three times, there's hideous things you see from the other defenders and midfielders.

You think of [Granit] Xhaka the other week, Emery is a man of honour and you see that behaviour, this is much deeper than the coach. Emery might be sailing his way back over the Channel this afternoon and be very happy to leave behind what is, quite simply a very average bunch of players.

There's no way Unai Emery was telling the players to do those things. Some of the things we were seeing on the pitch were fantasy football really.

Arsenal signings under Emery
Date Player Cost
June 2018 Bernd Leno Undisclosed
July 2018 Stephan Lichtsteiner Free
July 2018 Sokratis Papastathopoulos Undisclosed
July 2018 Lucas Torreira Undisclosed
July 2018 Matteo Guendouzi £8m
January 2019 Denis Suarez Loan
July 2019 Dani Ceballos Loan
July 2019 William Saliba £27m
August 2019 Nicolas Pepe £72m
August 2019 David Luiz £8m
August 2019 Kieran Tierney £25m

Without a shadow of a doubt the players have let him down. The manager will take the hit, it's his responsibility to place them into an organised shape, but some of those players - I've been critical of my own club over the last few years for their recruitment policy and their strategy, but Arsenal's is truly pathetic.

You couldn't find a more erratic bunch of players in terms of defending to watch. If you said to find three or four most erratic defenders in Europe, it's almost like that's the brief for recruitment. The players have let him down but some of them aren't up to it.


Freddie Ljungberg now takes over that defence, can he make the team into a defence that doesn't concede goals and doesn't concede shots? It'll be short-lived, those players will let you down, 100 per cent.

Ten contenders to replace Emery
Where it went wrong at Arsenal
He has to take responsibility, he has done. He was out there every single week on the touchline, getting the abuse at the end. He's been a great coach, for many years, having a lot of success, and this job has found him out. He's not been able to impact the players.

No connection with head coach and club

Sometimes in football we can look too deeply into it, there's just not that connection between the club, the manager and the players. Essentially things fall over, and it looks awful. The team on the pitch are a reflection of him, and the coaching sessions he's been doing and the work that he's been doing during the week.

He hasn't just become a bad coach overnight, something hasn't connected. Maybe it doesn't look like he knows what he's doing, because he's changed his mind. But when you see some of the things on the pitch in terms of decision making from Arsenal, I would imagine every single week he goes into his coaching room, looks at his players' names and has a game of sort of pin the tail on the donkey, which one do I pick.

We often see the opposite of what's been in previously, they look for something completely different. When something doesn't work, they say it's something like this that we need instead.

Who next for Arsenal?

Sky Sports News break down the reasons behind Unai Emery being sacked by Arsenal
Mikel Arteta was linked last time round, someone who has experience of Arsenal, he's a lot younger, whether they go down that route, I don't know what their boardroom are thinking and ultimately until they communicate that to us we won't. Some of the names on that list are fantastic coaches, some are younger and different without a track record, but every manager needs to build a track record.

Frank Lampard's doing that at Chelsea, he's only had a few months in the job, you have to get a first job somewhere. The first thing the board should do is reflect on what they've done, how they've gone about things. What do we need to do to make sure that we're not in this position in the future, so the Arsenal fans are happy.

Arsenal is a great football club, I loved going there even when I was playing. We're talking about a club that will come through this period, it will live long not just beyond Emery but the next manager as well. But they've always been quite responsible in their decision making.

They've been loyal, but they've generally been run well, it's a steady ship, and it'll be interesting to see now with the reign of Arsene Wenger whether they get caught on the roundabout and spinning for the next few years. That'll be something they'll be working hard to try and resist.

Arsenal fans have been giving Sky Sports News their take on Unai Emery's sacking, branding the football as 'diabolical'
The main thing they need to do is make sure they're not sacking another manager in 12 to 18 months. It just will not work, it'll cost them more money, sacking the managers in their respective teams but also in the recruitment ideas of the players who are brought in, I would imagine whatever manager comes in now will want to wipe out half that dressing room and that costs money. The reality is, they'll want to bring their own players in, and that costs as well.

The recruitment hasn't been right for a few years in a number of areas, they need to get that right and second get someone in place who can live through these difficult times and transition a team from what is a difficult moment to a good moment.

Look at the job Mauricio Pochettino did at Tottenham, it wasn't the best squad when he took over but he was able to manipulate it into something very good. Essentially, Arsenal need that same type of person who's capable of doing that.

Jamie Carragher suggests that Arsenal may have wait until the summer to appoint the right manager
Also speaking on Sky Sports News, Jamie Carragher said Arsenal's performances were actually worse than towards the end of Arsene Wenger's tenure at the club, and wonders which direction the Gunners will go next.

"The feeling was this man was going to come in and change things, but it's actually worse, and less organised than it was towards the end of Arsene Wenger's reign. There's no doubt that Arsenal, with the squad they have, are underachieving.

"I do think they've got really poor defenders, I've got no time for some of the players they have at the back, they are really poor.

"The next man they bring in, of course it will be a big job, they're a long way from Liverpool and Man City, but it will be interesting to see if they go back to Mikel Arteta, or look at the job Brendan Rodgers is doing, or a top-level Champions League manager in Max Allegri. Or do they wait for someone in the summer?"

https://www.skysports.com/football/...etic-recruitment-policy-as-arsenal-head-coach

 

[MenInG]

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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-stylermal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div></a> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5cjgk5HbcJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-stylermal; font-weightrmal; line-height:17px; text-decorationne; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Thank you Unai and Javi I’m sorry we let you down , Its our fault for not performing the right way, I’m sure we will meet again Gracias @unaiemery_ y Javi perdón por haberles fallado la culpa es nuestra por no haber estado a la altura, nos encontraremos </a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-spacewrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/emi_martinez26/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-stylermal; font-weightrmal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Emiliano Martinez</a> (@emi_martinez26) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2019-11-29T1044+00:00">Nov 29, 2019 at 2:34am PST</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

 

[PakLFC]

It was inevitable after yesterday's result Emery would walk today. He has had plenty of time to turn things around instead has been making some stupid decisions by not playing £72 million man Pepe. When they needed goals Emery would bring on a midfielder, defender or an attacker making him play on the wing. The players body language and style of play suggested they no longer respected or believed in whatever Emery was trying to do. Had they accelerated the sacking by a week or so Jose could very well have been the one taking over. Allegri is the one most fans want from what I am seeing where as I feel they should go after Brendan Rodgers, Pochettino or even Benitez who all have experience of managing EPL sides.

Arsenal being Arsenal I expect them to make another wrong decision and choose a totally inexperienced Viera or Arteta to lead them next. It's obvious that the board and chairman of Arsenal are Spurs fans

 

[MenInG]

The shy Swede with vibrant pink hair. The surprisingly private underwear model. Arsenal's new caretaker manager Freddie Ljungberg is a paradox, a far more reserved man than the bolder image many have of him may suggest.

Over 12 years since departing as a player, former winger Ljungberg, 42, has been called on to save the Gunners' season following the sacking of Unai Emery.

He's an Arsenal and Sweden legend, but what else do we know about the Gunners' new interim boss?

The shy one?
Trading Arsenal for West Ham after nine years in 2007, Ljungberg - a key figure in Arsenal's record-breaking 'Invincibles' side that went a whole Premier League season without defeat in 2003-04 - departed as a two-time Premier League and three-time FA Cup winner.

He was named Arsenal's 11th greatest player of all time in 2017, yet despite his loud hairstyles on the pitch - as well as his infamous underwear modelling off it - Ljungberg is in reality a private individual.

"Considering the fact that he is one of our greatest of all time, we don't know a lot about Fredrik Ljungberg," Swedish football journalist Frida Fagerlund told BBC Sport.

"He has always been very low key when it comes to the media and other public appearances. He has spoken openly about not really trusting people in general, especially not during his last few years in the Premier League. That is probably why he hasn't done so many interviews."

Even at home in Sweden - a country which has recently been spearheaded on the international football stage by the outspoken Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Vittsjo-born Ljungberg has maintained his mystery.

While his introverted nature has kept him from the headlines, his status as a Swedish football icon has not wavered.

Fagerlund added: "Fredrik will always be considered as one of the greatest. He did a lot for the national Team and today Arsenal is one of the most popular clubs in Sweden.

"He describes himself as shy but he is a strong character nowadays. That he's not driven by fame or recognition may be an advantage in his leadership. The model work he did for Calvin Klein was a bit of a surprise to everyone but he has said that it forced him out of his comfort zone, and it probably did.

"With that being said, he will always be a bit of a mystery. It is quite peculiar."

'When he spoke everyone listened'
Spells in Japan and India concluded Ljungberg's 20-year playing career. The Swede returned to Arsenal as Under-15s coach in 2016 before being handed the opportunity to join then-academy manager Andries Jonker at Vfl Wolfsburg as assistant in February 2017.

Tasked with keeping the struggling side in the German top flight, Jonker and Ljungberg achieved their objective courtesy of a relegation play-off, but were sacked six months later following a poor start to the 2017-18 season.

A close follower of his time in the Bundesliga, Wolfsburg football journalist Leonard Hartmann told BBC Sport that Ljungberg commanded attention despite his quiet approach - and the club's plight.

"Andries and Freddie arrived with a mission to stabilise the struggling team in the worst part of Wolfsburg's history and prevent the disaster of relegation," said Hartmann.

"The club had many problems. There were insecurities everywhere. Freddie's task was to talk to the players and give them back their confidence. He always acted in the background, but when he spoke everyone listened.

"The players listened carefully when he talked, because they had looked up to him when they were younger."

Given the opportunity to continue into the new season, Jonker and Ljungberg made "huge mistakes" prior to being sacked according to Hartmann, failing to alter their methods as team fitness was neglected in favour of tactics.

"Freddie said that he wished to have more time to give their ideas a real chance to grow, but it was the wrong time and wrong place. The club had much bigger problems than a former assistant and an inexperienced but ambitious young coach could solve," added Hartmann.

The Gunners welcomed their club legend back as Under-23s boss in 2018, and he impressed sufficiently to becomes Emery's first-team coach for the current campaign.

Can Ljungberg stake his claim?
Plenty of big-name managers have already been linked with the vacant managerial position at Emirates Stadium, but could Ljungberg conceivably remain as permanent manager?

Compared with other frontrunners for the position, Ljungberg's CV does not measure up to the Premier League experience of former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino or Wolves' Nuno Espirito Santo - nor the European credentials of Massimiliano Allegri and Carlo Ancelotti.

Domestic rivals Manchester United and Chelsea have adopted a 'club legend' approach, with the former's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer earning a permanent contract following a sharp upturn in form after he took interim control.

That, of course, will be Ljungberg's sole aim when his out-of-sorts side travel to Norwich on Sunday.

"Throughout his career he has always done things his own way," Aftonbladet journalist Fagerlund said.

"I think that's why he never returned to Sweden. In London it's much easier to be yourself and it doesn't matter what you're into or where you come from. Pre-Zlatan it was still very unusual to have outspoken and slightly unique characters within football.

"The truth is we don't really know much about Fredrik's style as a manager. What we do know is that he's done a brilliant job with the youngsters and is likely to continue on that path. He will also probably bring back some players who have been out in the cold."

A number of Arsenal youngsters have praised Ljungberg's influence behind the scenes, with 18-year-old forward Bukayo Saka admitting he often relied on Ljungberg to explain former boss Emery's instructions.

With almost a decade of guidance from Arsene Wenger an inevitable influence, Ljungberg knows as well as any the type of football Arsenal fans are accustomed to. But, while the pink hair has since disappeared, he will likely know no other way than to add his own personal stamp.

"He wants his team to play offensive football and this is what Arsenal stands for," added Hartmann.

"I think he will do his job like he always has. Quiet, thoughtful and with a focus on technique and tactics.

"When someone with such a fantastic career like Freddie gives everything in a small town like Wolfsburg, where everybody liked his unpretentious way, why should he not succeed at the club he loves?"

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50606066

 

[MenInG]

So first game with the stand-in manager - how did Arsenal do without Unai?

 

[WC-Passion]

I think Marcelino should have been on the poll. He's exactly the sort of manager I think Arsenal should go for. Valencia are a massive mess behind the scenes and that is the only reason why he had to leave them. A top 4 finish and a cup win over Barcelona, with an attacking and initiative play-style is what he brought them and I think those sort of targets are exactly what Arsenal are after. I think he would be a realistic option and a good fit.

 

[MenInG]

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has dismissed speculation linking him with the vacant Arsenal manager's post.

The 46-year-old Northern Irishman has led the Foxes to second in the Premier League and is a contender to replace Unai Emery, who was sacked last week.

Rodgers has previously admitted there is an exit clause in his contract but said: "Why would I want to leave Leicester City at this time?

"I am very happy so would have no need to look elsewhere."

Former Liverpool and Celtic manager Rodgers was appointed at Leicester in February and after presiding over a ninth-place finish last term, he has seen his team win 10 of their first 14 league matches this season.

Arsenal sacked Emery after 18 months in charge during their longest winless run since 1992.

The Gunners, who are eighth in the table, 13 points behind Leicester, have placed their former midfielder Freddie Ljungberg in interim charge.

Rodgers said of the rumours regarding the position at the Emirates: "I have a contract here until 2022. Thus far, I know managers are losing their jobs, the club have not indicated to me that they are going to sack me.

"I am working with a group of players who have so much potential. I gave an honest answer about how all managers have some sort of clause in their contracts and suddenly that seems to have thrown a door wide open.

"For me, I repeat, I am happy here. Very happy here. I feel I want to continue with that. Take from that what you want."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50634801

 

[imrankhannsu]

Even though Wenger wasnt winning trohpies the club had some stability.

Unai seemed to lack any proper Mangerial skills. I think it was his time to go. However its quite tough to manage a club during the winter period.

 

[MenInG]

Another possible candidate - Brendan Rodgers - has now been eliminated.

 

[James]

Rodgers clearly has a strong agent who has got the Leicester bosses panicking this week, because Rodgers has ended up getting a new extended contract out of this - he’ll be a very happy man!

For Arsenal, it has to be Vieira.

 

[Abdullah719]

Unai Emery: Former Arsenal boss approached by Everton for manager job

Spoiler

Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery was approached about the Everton job, Sky Sports News understands.

An informal meeting was held in London and it is thought Emery wants more time to think about his next move following his dismissal as Arsenal head coach.

Emery is keen to continue improving his English as he sees England, as well as Spain and Italy, as viable options for his next job.

The Spanish coach is taking time out after Arsenal, but he does not want to wait too long and is already thinking about his next challenge.

Everton are on the hunt for a new manager after they parted ways with Marco Silva last week, with Shanghai SIPG boss Vitor Pereira believed to top the board's list, Sky Sports News understands.

Chairman Bill Kenwright and majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri have drawn up a four-man shortlist, including Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti.

It has been confirmed to Sky Sports News Emery was desperate to sign Wilfried Zaha in the summer, as reported during the last window.

Emery also wanted to sign a central defender, and was keen on Harry Maguire - but he proved too expensive.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...al-boss-approached-by-everton-for-manager-job

 

[Rana]

Ancelloti is also now available

If Arsenal do not sign either him or Allegeri, then the board clearly needs to be sacked as they have no excuse to not sign a world class manager when available this time

 

[topspin]

Report: Ancelotti in Arsenal talks

Arsenal have reportedly opened talks with Carlo Ancelotti and could reach an agreement with the former Napoli boss as early as this afternoon.

Despite guiding Napoli to the last 16 of the Champions League, that was not enough for Ancelotti to keep his job at the San Paolo.

After moving into pole position to fill the Arsenal vacancy, Tuttomercatoweb claims the Gunners have now approached the 60-year-old, offering him a contract until 2021.

The website adds a final agreement between the two parties could be found later today.

Carletto previously managed Arsenal’s local rivals Chelsea, leading them to a domestic double in 2009-10.

The North Londoners, for their part, are currently ninth in the Premier League, seven points behind the top four.

However, they seem all set for the Europa League knockout stages and conclude the group stage against Standard Liege. on Thursday

https://www.football-italia.net/147508/report-ancelotti-arsenal-talks

 

[topspin]

Arsenal have reportedly opened talks with Carlo Ancelotti and could reach an agreement with the former Napoli boss as early as this afternoon.

Despite guiding Napoli to the last 16 of the Champions League, that was not enough for Ancelotti to keep his job at the San Paolo.

After moving into pole position to fill the Arsenal vacancy, Tuttomercatoweb claims the Gunners have now approached the 60-year-old, offering him a contract until 2021.

The website adds a final agreement between the two parties could be found later today.

Carletto previously managed Arsenal’s local rivals Chelsea, leading them to a domestic double in 2009-10.

The North Londoners, for their part, are currently ninth in the Premier League, seven points behind the top four.

However, they seem all set for the Europa League knockout stages and conclude the group stage against Standard Liege. on Thursday

https://www.football-italia.net/147508/report-ancelotti-arsenal-talks

Ancelotti is the man I wanted to replace Wenger in the first place because he knows to coach defenders, so I would expect him to be able to fix our defence. I would be happy with his appointment.

[MENTION=141114]Hasan123[/MENTION] [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] thoughts?

 

[Hasan123]

Ancelotti is the man I wanted to replace Wenger in the first place because he knows to coach defenders, so I would expect him to be able to fix our defence. I would be happy with his appointment.

[MENTION=141114]Hasan123[/MENTION] [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] thoughts?

I would take him but I have serious doubts about his methods that have got him the sack at Bayern and Napoli. Would not be a long term appointment.

Also seems as though he is throwing himself at Arsenal rather than us chasing him.

 

[Mamoon]

Ancelotti is the man I wanted to replace Wenger in the first place because he knows to coach defenders, so I would expect him to be able to fix our defence. I would be happy with his appointment.

[MENTION=141114]Hasan123[/MENTION] [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] thoughts?

Ancelotti is washed up - his peak was in the 2000s. Besides, he is renowned for his low-intensity training sessions and reliance on leaders in the dressing room. Arsenal have no leaders and his style of management is the opposite of what the club needs at this point. He would be almost as big a disaster as Emery.

Furthermore, he has no real motivation for the job. His legacy is already established and the only reason he wants to coach Arsenal now is because he is no longer good enough for the top or the oil money clubs. He is not going to get a call from Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, PSG, Man City and of course Bayern.

Considering all factors, Arteta is the best option in my opinion. Yes he is unproven, but when you are in Arsenal’s position you have to take risks because the proven top managers are not interested unless they are past it like Ancelotti.

Raul and co. had a golden opportunity of roping in Mourinho but they botched it, and they are fooling themselves if they think that Pochettino or Allegri would be willing to come considering that the likes of PSG, Barcelona and Bayern would be looking for managers soon.

Arteta is ambitious and cares for the club. He will be desperate to prove himself. Arsenal cannot get a top manager at the moment but they can unearth one. They have to take a chance with Arteta before it is too late.

 

[MenInG]

Arsenal downward spiral is a mixture of player apathy and managerial incompetence - and lack of money!

 

[Hasan123]

From what I have been reading it seems as though Arteta will get the job. I think it will happen next week.

I think he has the potential to be a great manager and think it's a risk worth taking.

 

[MenInG]

Arsenal have held a meeting with Manchester City coach Mikel Arteta to discuss their managerial vacancy.

Gunners chief executive Vinai Venkatesham is thought to have met the Spaniard in the north-west of England after both flew north following City's 3-0 win at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

It is not known whether Arteta, 37, has been offered the chance to succeed Unai Emery, who was sacked in November.

City boss Pep Guardiola says he would not stop Arteta if he decided to leave.

After Arsenal's latest defeat, interim manager Freddie Ljungberg - who has won once in five games since being appointed on 29 November - called for some clarity on the situation.

The Gunners are ninth in the Premier League, seven points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, after five victories in 17 matches this season.

Former midfielder Arteta, who made 149 appearances for Arsenal between 2011 and 2016, was linked with replacing Arsene Wenger at the Emirates in 2018 before the club appointed Emery.

He joined the City coaching staff in July 2016 after retiring as a player.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50805721

 

[MenInG]

Arsenal are in talks with Manchester City over the availability of coach Mikel Arteta.

It is not known whether Arteta, 37, has been offered the chance to succeed Unai Emery, who was sacked in November.

Gunners chief executive Vinai Venkatesham was pictured outside the Spaniard's home after both flew north following City's 3-0 win at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

City boss Pep Guardiola says he would not stop Arteta if he decided to leave.

It is understood Arteta has told City this was his second conversation with his old club and a third, with Josh Kroenke, son of Arsenal owner Stan, has been scheduled - possibly as soon as Monday night.

However, Everton, who are also without a permanent manager since Marco Silva was sacked on 6 December, have shown an interest in Arteta, who made 209 appearances for the Goodison Park club between 2005 and 2011.

The Toffees have also been linked with former Napoli manager Carlo Ancelotti.

After Arsenal's latest defeat, interim manager Freddie Ljungberg - who has won once in five games since being appointed on 29 November - called for some clarity on the situation.

The Gunners are ninth in the Premier League, seven points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, after five victories in 17 matches this season.

Former midfielder Arteta, who made 149 appearances for Arsenal between 2011 and 2016, was linked with replacing Arsene Wenger at the Emirates in 2018 before the club appointed Emery.

He joined the City coaching staff in July 2016 after retiring as a player.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50805721

 

[MenInG]

Arsenal's talks with Mikel Arteta have reached a "sensitive stage", Sky Sports News has been told, as the Gunners work to install the Manchester City assistant as their new head coach.

It is understood the Spaniard has yet to decide where his future lies despite more than 24 hours of discussions, including at his Manchester home where Gunners chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and lawyer Huss Fahmy were pictured leaving after 1am on Monday.

Arteta has a strong emotional pull to former club Arsenal but is also said to be conscious of the strength of his relationship with Pep Guardiola and the potential opportunity to eventually become his successor at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola said a few weeks ago he would not stand in Arteta's way if he wanted to take a job as a number one, but also does not want to lose his trusted assistant of two Premier League title-winning campaigns.

Talks between the two clubs are ongoing and the Etihad hierarchy are known to be frustrated by a lack of communication from their Gunners counterparts over the past days.

Negotiations are further complicated by the unusual structure within the Gunners hierarchy, with owner Stan Kroenke and son Josh still to be convinced after getting through interviews Venkatesham, Fahmy, head of football Raul Sanllehi and managing director Edu.

Edu is understood to be keen on hiring former team-mate and club legend Patrick Vieira, who is currently the manager of Nice in France.

Arsenal want a head coach rather than a manager, which also may have led them to Arteta over Carlo Ancelotti, who appears poised to join Everton this week - and Arteta has become recognised as one of the best coaches in the Premier League since his retirement in 2016, developing novel and creative ways of working with the Manchester City players.

'This is a big, big gamble putting someone that has never managed before in charge of a club the size of Arsenal.
It's all well and good saying he's worked under Pep Guardiola, but let's be honest, Guardiola would struggle managing this Arsenal team. Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp would struggle!

'To ask someone with no managerial experience to take charge in the current circumstances at Arsenal is a big ask. But there are also massive question marks over his credentials, massive questions.

'One of the major factors with Arteta being linked with the job is that he's worked closely under Guardiola, and he used to play at Arsenal. Other than the fact he won't get lost on the way to training, 'I've got nothing against Arteta, he was a top player and is a top bloke - I've been in his company and he is lovely. For a coach in his position, he cannot not take the job. After all, getting into management is all about timing.'

https://www.skysports.com/football/...-arteta-talks-with-arsenal-at-sensitive-stage

 

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Pep Guardiola expects a quick decision on whether Mikel Arteta will become Arsenal's new manager and says he cannot make an argument for the former Gunner not taking the job.

Manchester City expect to have Arteta in the dug-out for the Carabao Cup quarter-final at Oxford on Wednesday.

City's assistant manager has spoken with senior Arsenal figures about the possibility of replacing Unai Emery.

"I think it [the decision] is going to happen quick," said Guardiola.

"Why not [go]? It's a good argument."

Spoiler

Arteta, 37, took part in City training on Tuesday after two rounds of discussions with the Gunners.

Gunners chief executive Vinai Venkatesham was pictured outside former Spain Under-21 international Arteta's home after both flew north following City's 3-0 win at Arsenal on Sunday.

It is not yet known whether Arteta has been offered the chance to succeed compatriot Emery, who was sacked in November.

Guardiola has been kept fully informed of discussions and has spoken to Arteta to some degree. He wants to leave the man he brought onto his coaching team when he joined City in 2016 to make his own decision.

Arteta has been touted as Guardiola's successor at Etihad Stadium, although that has not played any part in the chats the pair have had.

"Do you want to sack me?" Guardiola smiled.

"We have talked about it a little bit but his feelings are his feelings. I am a guy who lets people live with freedom and do what they want because that is what they want in the moment, for their lives, family, professionally and individually.

"Mikel knows exactly what we think about him. After that, we cannot do more."

Guardiola says he was surprised no-one at Arsenal raised their interest in Arteta to senior City officials on Sunday.

With Arsenal 10th in the Premier League, Guardiola wonders how easy the task of rebuilding the club will be for Arteta if he does go.

"Arsenal were always one of the best teams for the last 20 years," he said. "When Arsene [Wenger] took over the team, he raised the club to another level. But in the last years, they are struggling a little bit.

"When the club takes a decision to replace the manager or buy players, it is always to try to be better. Whether it is going to happen or not, I don't know."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50827836

 

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Arsenal hope Mikel Arteta will be head coach for Everton trip

Current Manchester City assistant manager yet to tell present employers whether or not he wishes to leave

Arsenal remain hopeful that Mikel Arteta will be their new head coach in time for the visit to Everton on Saturday.

The current Manchester City assistant is yet to tell his present employers whether he wishes to take up a new role at the Emirates but is expected to make up his mind once Wednesday night's Carabao Cup trip to Oxford has concluded.

City - and in particular manager Pep Guardiola - are keen for Arteta to stay at the Etihad but realise that the offer from north London to take charge of his former club may prove too enticing to turn down.

Spoiler

A decision on his future could therefore arrive as early as Thursday - Guardiola said he believed the decision was going to be "quick" when he was asked about his trusted assistant on Monday.

Arteta, who has been part of Guardiola's staff since he arrived at the club in 2016, will travel with the City squad to Oxford after holding discussions with the Arsenal hierarchy this week.

That included controversial pictures of Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and lawyer Huss Fahmy leaving Arteta's Manchester home in the early hours of Monday morning, which angered the current Premier League champions.

Arteta has a strong emotional pull to former club Arsenal but is also said to be conscious of the strength of his relationship with Guardiola, who has long-touted Arteta as his potential successor at the Etihad.

"He knows exactly what we would like, but in the end the decision is individual, it is personal," said Guardiola.

"Nobody is here that doesn't want to be here. What will happen in the next days? I don't know, honestly. I would like Mikel to be here."

Mikel Arteta is about to become Arsenal head coach 18 months after he was first interviewed for the job.

He came very close to being appointed in the summer of 2018 after Arsene Wenger left but at the last minute Arsenal decided to give the job to Unai Emery instead.

Emery lost his job 19 days ago after he failed to re-establish Arsenal as a top-four side so the club's football executives have decided to give the job to their second choice from 2018.

Arteta's appointment will receive a mixed reception from Arsenal fans. Many are concerned by his lack of managerial experience, others are more open to the idea of bringing in a former Arsenal captain to rebuild the playing side of the club.

As far as the Arsenal board are concerned, Arteta fits the bill because he is an outstanding young coach who has played for Arsenal and knows what it means to play for and represent the club.

He has spent three and a half years working under Pep Guardiola and he has played an important part in making City one of the best sides in the world.

He works closely with individual players and has been credited with playing a key role in the development of young players such as Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane.

Arteta wants the Arsenal job and he will cost a lot less in compensation and wages than other big-name managers. Arsenal are expected to pay City less than £1m and Arteta's estimated annual salary of £5m is less than half what managers such as Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp earn.

Arteta's ability to speak English fluently is also an important factor in his appointment. Emery struggled to communicate effectively with the media and fans and Arsenal were determined to make sure their new manager was a good English speaker. It also helps that Arteta speaks Spanish when it comes to dealing with club executives such as head of football Raul Sanllehi.

Arsenal were also looking for a head coach who would fit into their management structure and that is something Arteta is willing to do. There was no appetite for returning to the days when Arsene Wenger ran everything as an all-powerful manager.

Arteta will be working under a head of football, a technical director and a managing director. He will be one of the most powerful figures at the club but he will have to work closely with others when it comes to setting budgets and buying and selling players.

Money will be made available for Arteta to strengthen the squad but he accepts that his focus has to be on working with the players who are already at the club. Arsenal were big spenders in the summer and they were not going to sanction the appointment of a manager who would want to spend fortunes in January and next summer.

It is always risky appointing someone without any managerial experience. In normal circumstances a club as big as Arsenal would not turn to a man who has never managed before. But these are not normal times at Arsenal and they believe Arteta is a risk worth taking.

'This is a big, big gamble putting someone that has never managed before in charge of a club the size of Arsenal.
It's all well and good saying he's worked under Pep Guardiola, but let's be honest, Guardiola would struggle managing this Arsenal team. Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp would struggle!

'To ask someone with no managerial experience to take charge in the current circumstances at Arsenal is a big ask. But there are also massive question marks over his credentials, massive questions.

'One of the major factors with Arteta being linked with the job is that he's worked closely under Guardiola, and he used to play at Arsenal. Other than the fact he won't get lost on the way to training,

https://www.skysports.com/football/...el-arteta-will-be-head-coach-for-everton-trip

 

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Arsenal will have to pay around £2million in compensation to bring Manchester City assistant manager Mikel Arteta back to the Emirates as head coach.

Negotiations are now underway between the two clubs, with City understood to be in no mood for compromise with their Arsenal counterparts.

Despite three weeks of speculation linking Arteta with a move to north London, no discussions took place between the two parties when City played at the Emirates last Sunday.

However, Arsenal managing director Vinai Venkatesham and club lawyer Huss Fahmy were photographed leaving Arteta's Manchester home in the early hours of Monday morning after a meeting lasting over two hours.

City are resigned to losing Arteta and will not stand in his way, but are expected to be less than flexible when it comes to both the amount of compensation and the payment schedules agreed with Arsenal.

The Gunners fuelled speculation Arteta's appointment could be imminent on Thursday after postponing interim boss Freddie Ljungberg's news conference to Friday.

Ljungberg was set to face the media ahead of Saturday's trip to Everton - by which time Arsenal hope to have former club captain Arteta in place.

However, the club have moved the news conference to Friday, giving no information about who will face the media.

Sky in Italy are reporting that Arteta has told City's board that he wants to leave to become the Gunners' head coach, but he did travel with his current employers to Oxford for Wednesday's Carabao Cup quarter-final to take his place on the bench alongside Guardiola.

Following that game, which City won 3-1, Guardiola was once again asked about Arteta's future, saying: "There was no change. I don't have any news.

"We prepared the game as best as possible. I spoke yesterday, my press conference I had 48 questions and 35 were about Mikel so I don't have to say anything more until there is news.

"When there is news, in my next [press] conference when you ask me something I will answer."

https://www.skysports.com/football/...r-city-set-compensation-for-assistant-manager

 

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Arsenal's legal team have been in contact with their Manchester City counterparts over Mikel Arteta becoming the next Gunners boss, but there is still no agreement in place.

Arteta has said his farewells to City staff, with the expectation being that he will be unveiled on Friday.

The Spaniard remains under contract as City are still waiting for Arsenal to offer to pay compensation.

Interim boss Freddie Ljungberg had his news conference cancelled on Thursday.

City remain angry at how Arsenal have conducted themselves since Sunday.

The Gunners failed to mention their interest in the 37-year-old succeeding Unai Emery despite the two teams meeting at the Emirates, but then sent two senior officials to Manchester for a late night meeting with Arteta following the champions' 3-0 win in London.

There has still been no call from anyone in a senior position at Arsenal to City, who do not blame Arteta as he has kept manager Pep Guardiola fully informed.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50850088

 

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Mikel Arteta is expected to be named as Arsenal's new manager on Friday.

Arteta said his farewells to staff at Manchester City on Thursday morning.

There has been annoyance at City over Arsenal's conduct but they will not stop Arteta, 37, succeeding Unai Emery.

A seven-figure compensation payment will be made in order for the move to be completed.

Thursday's news conference previewing the game against Everton was cancelled.

Interim boss Freddie Ljungberg is expected to take charge of the team for the final time at Goodison Park on Saturday, with Arteta watching from the stands.

The Gunners failed to mention their interest in Arteta despite the two teams meeting at Emirates Stadium on Sunday - a game the champions won 3-0.

Gunners chief executive Vinai Venkatesham was pictured outside the Spaniard's home several hours later.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50850088

 

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Unai Emery says Arsenal are making "a good decision" by appointing Mikel Arteta to replace him as manager.

Emery, 48, was sacked last month after an 18-month spell in charge ended with a seven-game winless run.

Manchester City assistant boss Arteta was announced as the new Gunners boss on Friday.

'A move Arteta has prepared all his life for' - Balague on return to Arsenal

"He really is prepared to make that next jump," said Emery.

"He has been at Arsenal before, he's been in the Premier League and he has been working with Pep Guardiola. I do believe this is a good decision and I would also like it to be a good decision."

Spoiler

In his first broadcast interview since leaving Arsenal, Spaniard Emery spoke to BBC Sport's Guillem Balague on a range of topics, including plans to give him a new contract earlier this season, the manner of his Emirates exit, his relationship with Mesut Ozil and interest from Everton.

The truth is that in the first year I was very pleased and the only thing left for me to do was to put the rubber stamp on the season with a win in the final of the Europa League. In the knockout stages we looked powerful.

And then we played in the final against Chelsea where we had a great first half in a tactical sense, and where, in my opinion, we could have taken control of the game. But Eden Hazard separated both sides in their favour and they won the match.

And in the league we swam right up to the shore and died on the beach.

We effectively lost a top-four finish at home in two games, a draw against Brighton and a loss to Crystal Palace. These happened at a time when we were heavily involved in the Europa League.

There were things that happened that impeded our chances of responding as well as we would have wanted, such as the injuries to Rob Holding, Hector Bellerin and Aaron Ramsey.

But it's true that I was very satisfied with how things went because I believe we learned how to become a team, at times a team that shone, but a team that was effective and competitive, and a team that in general was showing why Arsenal signed me. I believe we achieved that and we just needed to make that final step.

This season, theoretically, we also began well and I had the feeling - and so did the club - that the achievements of the previous season were valued and we were now looking to how we could develop together, even to the point where they were looking to offer a renewed contract.

Then I remember we had one month... At one of the international breaks we were third, and then in the first game after we came back, the frustrations from bad results were beginning to make us worse for the following matches. We were losing confidence, and it's also true to say we were losing a bit of stability.

The game against Sheffield United [a 1-0 win for the Blades in October] was a turning point. In one month everything got broken, and we were incapable of winning a game in seven and the tension based on the question we were asking "What's happening to us" was like a rolling ball that was just getting bigger and bigger.

When that happens the coach is the first person to come into the spotlight. I have lived this at other clubs but I have managed to conquer it by getting the team back on track, but at Arsenal that month was terrible.

Emery's record at Arsenal
Games Wins Draws Losses Clean sheets Win %
Premier League 51 25 13 13 10 49%
Europa League 20 14 2 4 11 70%
League Cup 5 3 1 1 1 60%
FA Cup 2 1 0 1 1 50%
Total 78 43 16 19 23 55%

I had friends or people at my side who would say to me, "I can see you're suffering," and I said "naturally".

When a coach doesn't win, he suffers. And when he doesn't win two, or three or four he suffers more. We had to win to regain our emotional equilibrium, to get rid of that frustration and we couldn't.

And what is true is the social mass of Arsenal, which is very big, couldn't see it, couldn't connect with what was happening and it is true that in this situation, as happens in every country and with every team, the coach finds himself targeted.

I spoke to the players three or four weeks before the process began to tell them that things were not going well and that I couldn't see the team I pictured on the field of play, I couldn't identify what I was looking for. We looked for solutions but results still didn't come.

The club made its decision and that was passed on to me by Raul Sanllehi (Arsenal's head of football) with much regret because he also felt his share of the responsibility and we were very united... but the situation had become unsustainable as regards to the protests of a section of the fans.

That said, I believe there was another important section who believed we could have been shown more patience and carried on with the project. I think we could have turned things around but I also understand those at the top have to take decisions and take responsibility.

Was the language barrier a major problem?
The language barrier becomes bigger in people's eyes, because of the results. I think if the results had been good things would have gone like the previous season - people would have allowed me to make mistakes, and found my English more acceptable than focusing on my mistakes.

I had a certain level of English simply because I hadn't had the opportunity to develop it more - Id had two years in France with Paris St-German where I concentrated much more on French.

So when I arrived in England the first thing I said to myself is "I have to speak English" and the club not only helped me but also encouraged me to speak English even with all the difficulties, which is why I made that effort.

I have always made this effort from my first press conference, I always spoke to the players in English and I believe progressively I am speaking it better. Communication in football is very important and it has been one of the basic foundations of my success in Spain and France.

Obviously I don't know how far I've got, whether it's at 40% or 50%, I still had a way to go. When the results are not good you have to answer more questions but always on the same line.

Consequently my speech in the first or the second question of press conferences could contain phrases or words to express myself but the third or the fourth or the fifth I found more difficult. As a result I saw this barrier that I had to conquer and I believe that in time I would have done it but clearly I still had a long way to go.

I had conversations with players of 20 minutes or half an hour, practically every week. Individually as well. And when I finished the conversation I went to the delegate of the team and asked if the message had been understood. I wanted to see if the message had gone through, and he always told me "Unai, logically there are things that could be better, but everything is understood".

The main captains last year were Laurent Koscielny, Petr Cech, Aaron Ramsey and Nacho Monreal and they all left the team. So the natural leader in the changing room, because of his values and what he represented, was Granit Xhaka.

There was a vote to see if what I felt about him was also felt by the players. And it was.

Circumstances meant Xhaka had a clash with fans [he was booed off the pitch when being substituted during October's home draw with Crystal Palace], but he is the leader that this team needs then and now, because of the values he represents, because of the respect everyone had for him and because of his experience.

A difficult relationship with Ozil?
I've had a lot of conversations with Mesut Ozil. He's a very important player for the team. There are games in which you see Mesut's brilliance, linking with the attack. But also I had to find players around him so he felt comfortable.

Also the team needed to feel solid. And when you, little by little, have to build a team that is aggressive, intense, as well as structured for good pressure, we also had to find a space for Mesut as he gives us an important part of the game, which is his brilliant talent.

To do so I had to find the right connections between players; the right tactics. I was very motivated to try to find that. I wanted Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut to work together, each one of them with their own characteristics.

But there were times when I had to leave one of them out of the XI.

Ozil is a very important player if you can find a way to make it work with other players. He has talent that allows other players to be better, but when you want a bit more aggressive pressure he does not have the best qualities for that.

Interest from Everton - and what next?
Now is the time to go home. To be with my people, to analyse a lot. I'll spend the next few days close to my family, with my coaches. And I've started doing a lot of soul searching.

We all spoke to each other and questioned what we got wrong. There's been interest from teams but I want to just spend some quiet time and choose the right project.

Different teams have expressed interest. To be honest I want to thank them [Everton and others] for wanting me and I told them that I wanted to be quiet, that I need to take a little bit of air. And to choose well the next project after many years of not stopping.

For the moment it is time to rest. That will be good for my mind. To regroup ideas and to analyse mistakes that we may have made. To talk to people around me to ask them what they saw in what I did. I need time for all that. Personally I need to recover energy to start strong the next thing that I will lead.

And I want to take advantage of this conversation to thank Arsenal for the opportunity they gave me to live these moments with them. One bad month will not take that away.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50865120

 

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The plane from Baku flew through the night with no trophy on board and landed at 8am. Unai Emery went home to Cockfosters, slept for three hours, then returned to London Colney, where the players started arriving from midday, called in one by one. His first season at Arsenal was over. It had been “very good” he insists – repeatedly, in fact – only to collapse into a limp finish. Three defeats in seven days – against Crystal Palace, Wolves and Leicester – then a draw with Brighton cost them a Champions League place; that loss in Azerbaijan denied them the Europa League. Now the analysis began, preparations for the next stage.

Every player came, except Mesut Özil. Emery told them his plans and heard theirs: £130m was spent on signings, eight players in, 10 out, excitement building. But mistakes were made, he admits – from recruitment to the departure of all four potential captains – and within six months he was gone. Something had broken, the situation “unsustainable”, and he was sacked. He had overseen the best start in Arsenal’s history and their worst run in 30 years. As it disintegrated, he knew those games he watched alone and exposed on the touchline, toxicity all around, would be his last.

Spoiler

On 29 November it was official, his departure as unlamented as it was inevitable. Emery, under lockdown in Valencia, would almost rather leave it there. As he recalls his origins at little Lorca and discusses his desire to work again, there is a glimpse of the old enthusiasm, absent in the autumn. And he keeps returning to the “positives” at Arsenal. But that goes with an inescapable sense of injustice at how he has been portrayed, dismissed as a disaster, a figure of fun. And it is hard not to linger on what went wrong.

Starting with Baku. Below the surface were problems, but Emery believes things might have been different had they won and made the Champions League; had they reacted right. That final, those conversations and plans, should have been a start but listening to Emery it feels more like the end. In October 2018, fans had chanted: “We’ve got our Arsenal back.” By November 2019, they had changed their tune, to: “We want Emery out!” And: “You’re getting sacked in the morning.”

“The first season we did a lot well,” Emery says. “I thought: ‘This is my team.’ People said: ‘Unai, we can see your personality in this side.’ There was spirit, games with intensity, energy – Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea – and we reached Arsenal’s first [European] final in 13 years, playing very well against Napoli and Valencia. Finishing third was in reach but we lost four decisive points against Crystal Palace and Brighton.”

Emery calls those results “incomprehensible” but tries to make sense of them. A recurring theme emerges. “[At first] things went magnificently; there was a good spirit in the dressing room,” he begins. “[Aaron] Ramsey’s injury, when he was at his best, had a big influence: he conveyed positivity, so much energy. And playing a lot of important games in April without him, we needed 100% implicación from every player.”

Implicación. If there is a word repeated often over the hour’s conversation, it is that. In English it is commitment and it was missing.

“In Baku Chelsea were better, I accept that. In the second half Eden Hazard made the difference. Preparations were good and everyone was committed. But some players had a mentality that says one day ‘yes’, one day ‘no’, when in football it has to be ‘yes’, ‘yes’, ‘yes’ every day. We lacked that little extra to get through a lot of games in those final weeks. If your application and commitment falls below 100%, you can lose, and that’s what happened.

“People were happy but something was missing,” he says, a shortfall in commitment, character and leadership he wanted to address. “I told the people running the club. And then there were decisions that didn’t go well. Mistakes were made, and as coach I take responsibility for mine. For example, all four captains left. Ramsey had decided he was going. It would have been better for the team if he had continued, and for me. Petr Cech was retiring; fine. But I wanted Laurent Koscielny to stay, Nacho Monreal to stay. All those leaders went, which makes the dressing room something else.

“We signed [Nicolas] Pépé. He’s a good player but we didn’t know his character and he needs time, patience. I favoured someone who knew the league and wouldn’t need to adapt. [Wilfried] Zaha won games on his own: Tottenham, Manchester City, us. Incredible performances. I told them: ‘This is the player I know and want.’ I met Zaha and he wanted to come. The club decided Pépé was one for the future. I said: ‘Yes, but we need to win now and this lad wins games.’ He beat us on his own.

“It’s also true he was expensive and Palace didn’t want to sell,” Emery concedes. “There were a series of decisions that had repercussions.”

Including his own: “autocrítica,” self-criticism, is a word he throws in often, despite seeing himself partly as prisoner of others’ mistakes and there were injuries too. But could he not have intervened? Convinced Ramsey to stay or pushed harder to renew his deal? Or Monreal, or Koscielny? And why allow the captaincy question to become so drawn out, so contaminated? Why choose Granit Xhaka, a decision so unpopular it ended in confrontations with supporters?

“[Initially] he wanted to stay,” Emery says of Ramsey. “He needed to negotiate a new contract and they didn’t reach an agreement. The club had doubts about renewing for a certain sum. Ramsey wanted to feel valued. It was a financial matter; I can’t get involved. And I still didn’t know him well when I arrived. He’s important but I can’t say what they should pay him.

“I believed Xhaka could be captain. And the players voted for him, he was respected in the dressing room.” But why vote? Why not own that decision yourself? “My strategy was 50% me, 50% them. I like to have players’ input, their opinion. There were people with the character to be captain, but you need time and backing. Without the support of certain people or the fans, it’s harder. If Xhaka had Koscielny and Nacho, or Ramsey, he could have eased into it. Emotionally, certain results and attitudes inside didn’t help the team have the commitment and togetherness of before.”

Another criticism levelled at Emery is that he failed to accommodate Özil, his most talented player – a £350,000-a-week problem that conditioned so much. “I spoke a lot with Özil,” he says. There is a long pause. Maybe a hint of sadness. “He has to be self‑critical too, analyse his attitude and commitment. I tried with all my might to help Özil. Throughout my career, talented players have reached their best level with me. I was always positive, wanting him to play, be involved.

“In pre-season I told him I wanted to help recover the best Özil. I wanted a high level of participation and commitment in the dressing room. I respected him and thought he could help. He could have been a captain but the dressing room didn’t want him to be. That’s not what I decided; that’s what the players decided. Captains are ones who have to keep defending the club, the coach, teammates.”

The difference between Özil’s performances home and away was stark. Even the number of appearances was. Why did Emery not trust him, play him more? Why were his displays not better? “Sometimes they were better, sometimes worse, like all players. Sometimes he wasn’t available because he was ill or his knee hurt. Watford was his first after the robbery, and I put him [straight] in. I was always open to talking, he was always in my plans, but he had to do his bit. And there were things I couldn’t control.”

If so, Emery kept his counsel, and he seems to hold back now. He always will, he says – even if that means shouldering the blame. “A coach has to have the strength to take responsibility, to be [in the firing line]. I protect the players and the club protects the manager. I’m a club man, that’s what they signed. With Arsène Wenger it was different: he did everything. Now there’s Raul [Sanllehi] and Edu, and I have to trust them to do their job. My job’s the football. The club have people who handle other stuff, although that impacts on the pitch. Some of that hurt us.”

Maybe him most of all. Emery was exposed. When results turned, he was an easy target. A comedy one, even. Language made it harder to build a relationship with fans or a public persona that might have insulated him. His English became a stick to beat him with, grounds for dismissal. “I had a decent level, although I needed to improve. When results are bad it’s not the same. You lack the linguistic depth to explain. And take ‘good ebening’: OK, it’s ‘good evening’, but when I said ‘good ebening’ and won it was fun; when we were losing it was a disgrace.”

And results were bad. Awful, in fact. It unravelled fast. Emery changed players, formations and ideas but could not change the trajectory or regain control. He watched it fall apart, knowing he would be the one to fall. “It’s difficult,” he says, hands drawing swirls, so much going on. “The energy slips, things drift; everything does, everyone does. Some support you but you feel the atmosphere, relationships [shift]. And that transmits to the pitch. Losing leads against Palace and Wolves reflected our emotional state: we weren’t right. It wasn’t working. I told the players: ‘I don’t see the team I want.’ That commitment and unity wasn’t there any more. That’s when I see I’m on my own. The club left me alone, and there was no solution.”

Jorge Valdano once said there are two types of coaches: strong and weak. And once players realise theirs is the latter, he is screwed.

“Indeed,” Emery says. “At every club, I’ve been protected: Lorca, Almería, Valencia, PSG. At Sevilla I had Monchi. At PSG Nasser al-Khelaifi protected me in the dressing room and publicly. At Arsenal they weren’t able to, maybe because they came from Wenger, who did everything. They’d say: ‘We’re with you’ but in front of fans and the dressing room they couldn’t protect me. Truth is, I felt alone. And the results dictated I had to go.

“But, look, I was happy at Arsenal and I remember the good things. The first year was magnificent, I gave opportunities to young players: Bukayo [Saka] played eight minutes and never touched the ball but that was a first step for a 17-year-old who’s going to be great. Bernd Leno has grown. [Joe] Willock, Reiss Nelson, [Eddie] Nketiah, [Gabriel] Martinelli. Mattéo Guendouzi did very well, Lucas [Torreira]. It’s rewarding seeing them grow. And [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang got 31 goals and was top scorer, [Alexandre] Lacazette scored 19 and gave 13 assists.

“All that was missing was Aubameyang scoring that penalty against Tottenham: two extra points for Champions League qualification. Or beating Brighton and Palace. We couldn’t finish the job and then there were mistakes. I’m self-critical; at certain moments I couldn’t get results. I enjoyed the Emirates. I still follow Arsenal. They’re making changes. [Mikel] Arteta was the right choice … I spoke to him around Christmas. I want the best for him and for Arsenal.”

Emery is keen to work again: “The desire and energy is there. I’m watching football, learning. And if there’s a good project in England, if someone wants me and is prepared to get behind me, I’m available… In England that identification with your team brings the game alive. It’s deeper there, like a church. I was born in San Sebastián and my team is Real Sociedad. That feeling is in my heart and that’s what you find in England. It’s marvellous, the loveliest thing there is.”

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...enal-couldnt-protect-me-truth-is-i-felt-alone

 

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Last laugh for Emery if he wins the UEL tonight?