JAVI: MY PAL EMERY IS ONE OF THE BEST

JAVI GRACIA did not think Unai Emery was destined to be a manager when they were team-mates at Real Sociedad.

But when the two Spaniards go head-to-head at Vicarage Road on Monday, the Watford boss concedes he will be pitting his wits against “one of the best coaches in the world”.

Emery won their last duel, with two late goals snatching a 2-0 victory for Arsenal at the Emirates seven months ago, but they live only a few miles apart and have been out to dinner twice.

Gracia (above) said: “We have a good relationship – we played together many years ago and from that moment we have remained in touch.

“At different times, we have faced each other as players and managers and it will be good to see him again – we are very close, but our teams are very different.”

Asked if he earmarked Emery as a future top manager back in their playing days, Gracia replied: “In that moment, no – we just spoke about football, played football and we enjoyed it.

“But in my opinion, Unai is now one of the best coaches in the world, not only in England.”

Emery admits he must find a solution to Arsenal’s poor away results if they are to finish in the top four.

The travel-sick Gunners have won only five of their 15 Premier League away days this term.

And Emery said: “It’s not about the quality, collectively or tactically, it’s not – it’s playing against a team like Watford that is playing against us with 100 per cent motivation and ambition to beat us.

“It’s up to us to have the same mentality and after to have the capacity to be organised, to impose our competitiveness and quality.”