UNAI WILL MAKE GUNNERS WORLD CLASS ONCE MORE

UNAI EMERY has ‘energised’ Arsenal – and the re-build towards a new ‘world-class’ club is gathering pace.

That’s the message to Gunners fans looking for signs that a new era is taking shape at the Emirates.

It’s just over 12 months since Arsene Wenger waved goodbye and the north Londoners have taken time to adjust.

But with a new management structure, led by Emery (right), in place, the club is moving forward again, according to Arsenal’s academy director Per Mertesacker.

The German released his autobiography this week and painted a positive picture of life after Wenger.

“Going away from Arsene meant there was a leadership void. It was almost the case that Arsene decided everything,” he said.

“Now it’s more spread out. We have brought in Edu, two CEOs, plus myself and a new manager.

“The club has undergone a massive change and everyone still needs to find their feet but Unai is more focused on the first team and the football side. He’s not as involved as Arsene was in strategic issues. There’s a shift in leadership.

“He brings a different kind of energy. You could see the shift from Arsene to Unai. It was new. Everyone was energised by a new start. This isn’t being negative but you could smell that it needed a new start. There was a difference in training. You could see that after having one manager for such a long time there was a positive energy about the place. With the arrival of Edu as sporting director it has all been very positive. We want to build on that momentum. I feel there’s some momentum building up. You can see energy about the place.”

Mertesacker says that the brief for Edu, who played for the Gunners from 2001 to 2005, is very simple: Make Arsenal great again. He added: “Edu will make changes. He has the power to change what he wants around the first team. He’s a very positive guy. First of all, he trusts me! We work very closely together, I think we can make a shift to being world-class again.

“That’s the responsibility we have and the legacy that Arsene has left. By being so successful he set expectations.”

Mertesacker himself is still getting to grips with his role. As part of his own brief, he had to deliver a presentation to his new boss, Edu, explaining how he is mapping out the future of the club’s youngsters. He said: “I have a huge responsibility. We want to provide for the first team but we want to provide for the football world and the world outside of football.

“There are different pathways. But I want them all to become ‘strong, young Gunners.’ That’s the tagline and that’s my vision. That they can cope with any scenario, the Emirates, first-team training, being released...anything.

“I have to learn and start at the bottom. Youth football is very exciting and I want to do it all now.

“You are really talking about what comes through in five to ten years but I’d welcome the chance to see it through.”