Emery has eyes on City’s crown

Spaniard demands ‘no fear’ in title push

UNAI EMERY has ordered his new Arsenal charges to be fearless in their attempts to chase down Manchester City at the summit of English football.

The appointment of the Spaniard as the Gunners’ new manager was confirmed yesterday, with the signing of a three-year contract.

Emery, 46, knows that he will be required to work under strict budgetary constraints, with about £50million available for new signings.

But the former Paris SaintGermain boss is adamant that his team can still go toe to toe with English football’s elite clubs next season.

‘That is our objective (to catch Manchester City),’ said Emery. ‘Arsenal is a club with fantastic personality and identity. I believe — and the club has shown me that they believe.

‘It is about showing that personality and showing the stature of this football club.

‘What we want to do is not fear any team either here in the Premier League or in Europe and our objective is to be among the best and to beat the best.

‘I think it is about having belief in the players. We have got a strong nucleus.

‘I’m the type of coach who has always worked really hard, not because I do it better than anyone else but because that is what I believe the most important thing is.

‘I’m very demanding of myself, I’m passionate and I really want to transmit that to the people around me — that we can, and must, improve in the future.

‘That is the kind of thing I want to transmit, that desire to be better and I think that will lead us to improve in the Premier League and in Europe.’

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said Emery’s appointment marked the start of a new chapter for the club, and that the players will be ‘energised’ and fans ‘enthused’ by his style. He also insisted Emery (below) was always the No 1 candidate for the job, although it is believed Mikel Arteta was the leading contender before fears crept in over his lack of managerial experience.

‘At the end of the day, three of us (head of recruitment Sven Mislintat, head of football relations Raul Sanllehi and Gazidis) all wrote on a piece of paper our top three candidates and put them into the middle of the table,’ said Gazidis.

‘And the choices were all the same, Unai was at the top of all of our lists.’

Sportsmail’s Martin Keown warned Arsenal fans they will have to be patient as Emery attempts to return the club to former glories.

‘To expect that Emery will transform this team into champions overnight is unrealistic,’ said the former Gunners defender. ‘Arsenal has been run Arsene Wenger’s way for 22 years and, given the sheer spending power of the Manchester clubs, the competition is fierce. ‘Emery inherits a side that can do damage in the final third but lacks a steeliness and a nastiness, particularly away from home. If he can restore these ingredients, then Arsenal can at least challenge in the league.’ ARSENAL fans have written to the UK’s Spanish ambassador Carlos Bastarreche demanding action against Madrid police who acted like ‘violent uniformed thugs’ after the Europa League loss to Atletico. The letter alleges officers used batons to hit Arsenal fans, including women and children, both inside and outside the Wanda Metropolitano stadium on May 3. ‘The behaviour of the police after the match should be investigated independently,’ the letter read.