A passionate, workaholic tactician
BUCKLE UP GUNNERS, EMERY IS ONE HARSH TASKMASTER
UNAI EMERY will bring a reputation as a relentless workaholic with a remarkable eye for detail when he takes over at Arsenal.
The 46- year- old former Sevilla boss is known for working 14-hour days, for pushing his players on and off the training ground, and for being a master tactician.
Emery, who beat Mikel Arteta to the job, is set to be unveiled in the next 24 hours and wi l l arrive on a £6million-a-year contract, less than Arsene Wenger’s deal.
But Emery, expected to sign for four years, will also bring up to four members of his own backroom staff, who are: Juan Carlos Carcedo ( assistant coach), Julen Masach ( fitness) and Pablo Villanueva (coach), Victor Manas (video analyst). It is believed that Emery was put in touch with Arsenal 10 days ago as an experienced alternative to Manchester City’s Arteta.
Though his English is poor, Arsenal were swayed by his experience at Sevilla, Valencia and Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal fans, after years of watching Wenger’s restraint on the touchline, are likely to enjoy the antics of the more animated Emery, who guided Sevilla to three successive Europa League triumphs.
He is known for regularly rotating his line- up, a readiness to make tactical changes during a game, and for spending hours compiling dossiers on opponents.
Emery, who left French giants PSG at the weekend, even dished out memory sticks to his players about training and opponents. When he thought one player was not reading the contents of the memory stick, he left it blank and caught him out after quizzing him about it.
One physio familiar with his work painted a picture of gruelling training sessions and intense coaching as he strives to improve players. Former Manchester City winger Jesus Navas, who worked with him briefly at Sevilla, said: “He likes working with young players, and the fact that Arsenal have Spanish players will please him.
“He works the players very hard but the players respect him.”
Sky TV’s Spanish football exper t Ter r y Gibson said: “I talked to players who worked under him and they said he’s relentless.
“I have seldom seen him deviate from the 4- 2- 3- 1 system and his style is more defensive. He is quite conservative in his approach.”