Emery gunning for the challenge
READY TO RESTORE ARSENAL’S GLORY DAYS The club’s new manager arrives in London with grand credentials.
Fuelled by video nasties and sleepless nights, Unai Emery is ready for the challenge of succeeding Arsene Wenger after being appointed as Arsenal’s first new boss for 22 years.
Arsenal have made a habit of appointing managers out of left field – Bertie Mee was a former physiotherapist, former Arsenal star George Graham came from second-tier Millwall and Wenger was greeted with “Arsene Who?” headlines following his move from Japan’s Nagoya Grampus Eight in 1996.
Emery is seen by some as another surprise choice after the Gunners reportedly initially favoured Manchester City assistant coach Mikel Arteta.
But Emery, a 46-year-old Spaniard, arrives with grand credentials following his two-year stay with Paris Saint-Germain and a Europa League-winning spell at Sevilla.
Emery left Paris at the end of this season having won the domestic treble.
Now he is tasked with raising standards at the Emirates Stadium and restoring Arsenal to the kind of glory they enjoyed in the early years of Wenger’s reign.
Emery was steeped in football from birth, with his father and grandfather both former players. He had a modest playing career, largely spent in Spain’s lower leagues, but was an instant hit in his managerial debut with thirdtier Lorca.
He achieved promotion and then moved to Almeria, who he took up to La Liga for the first time before taking over at Valencia, where he guided the team into the Champions League with three consecutive top-three finishes.
Emery moved to Sevilla where he won three Europa League trophies in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
He has earned a reputation as one of Europe’s most studious coaches, working until the early hours of the morning crafting his game plans. He spends up to 12 hours preparing video analysis for his players and former Valencia winger Joaquin once quipped: “There were so many videos I ran out of popcorn. He’s obsessed with football. He’s one of the best managers I’ve had.”
Emery is a perfectionist who demands relentless effort on the training ground.
“Either we all work or let’s just burst the ball,” he said, giving voice to an approach that might shake Arsenal out of the complacency that marred the end of the Wenger era.
The main worry for Arsenal fans might be Emery’s ill-fated spell with Spartak Moscow in 2012 and his failure to fulfil his mandate at Paris Saint-Germain, where he was asked to win the Champions League after moving to the big-spending French giants in 2016.
Wenger’s travails in recent years mean Emery will not have to worry about the Champions League in the coming season but Arsenal can rest assured their ultra-driven boss will be working all hours to get them back there. – AFP