THE TALK OF FOOTBALL

UNAI EMERY is in for a tough season after replacing Arsene Wenger as Arsenal manager according to Gunners and Ireland legend David O’Leary. ‘I think he has a hard job. I don’t think it is a case of “change of manager, here we go”,’ said O’Leary yesterday. ‘It wasn’t a fluke we finished sixth last season. I think, “Have we got better than the five ahead of us?” I don’t think so yet. ‘If we finish higher than sixth, I believe we have done well. There will be no one like Arsene or Alex Ferguson any more. That’s gone. Twenty two years at a club as a manager is an amazing achievement. It will never happen again.’

HARRY KEWELL was sent off in his first match in charge of Notts County, a 5-1 defeat at Exeter. The former Liverpool star, who left Crawley for the League Two’s bottom club last week, was angered by a decision in the build-up to Exeter’s fourth goal and sent off by referee Neil Hair.

STEVEN NAISMITH says he can provide Scotland with the firepower to shoot down Albania in the Nations League tomorrow if Leigh Griffiths is not fit.

The Celtic striker was replaced at half-time during Friday night’s 4-0 friendly defeat by Belgium and has struggled with a calf complaint this season.

Griffiths will have tests today but Naismith said: ‘I’ve believed since coming to Hearts and starting the season well that I can contribute to the national team.’