Gunners tuning in for Unai Emery Show as he takes centre stage
UNAI EMERY does not want to be the centre of attention this afternoon, but he is starting to become an internet sensation thanks to the club’s new ‘manager-cam’ feature.
Arsenal’s website will have a camera trained on their manager throughout the north London derby with Tottenham. It is the first time it will be used at the Emirates, but on a trial run at St James’ Park on the opening weekend one clip of Emery attracted 2.75million viewers on Instagram alone.
Emery said: ‘I’m not the protagonist. The most important thing for the camera is the team. Maybe after the match on a Monday, the supporters can look at me and other things.
‘But the most important camera is the one on the players on the pitch. I really, really, really want the focus to be on the players until after the game.’
Like it or not, the Spaniard is compulsive viewing as he plays out every kick and header from his technical area.
‘I am doing each moment how I am feeling at that time — to help the players,’ he said. ‘But sometimes I sit back and wait before then taking the best decision for the game. It is not always the same time for every game.
‘I have been doing this throughout my career. In Spain, in France and now here. It’s been the same in each country because I want to be active but not be a protagonist. I want to help and support the players. I have a responsibility to help them, to support them, to give them the best solution tactically and individually.
‘But, they are the protagonists. When the match is starting, for 90 minutes we are on the bench and they are on the pitch. The more difficult work is for them and we are there to help them with our passion, with our energy, but above all being intelligent in the management of that 90 minutes.’
Emery got off to a good start in his first North London derby winning 4-2 at the Emirates last year, before losing 2-0 in the Carabao Cup a few weeks later. Spurs ended up finishing above Arsenal for the third year running and edging them out of a Champions League place, and now Emery is following Mauricio Pochettino’s lead in giving young home-grown players a chance.
Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles have all featured heavily so far this season, and Emery said: ‘We need young players. Our responsibility is to give them chances to train with us, then after to play friendlies, then important matches like we are doing.’
He will rotate them with more experienced internationals for some games, though, adding: ‘They can share with experienced players, because our demands are very difficult and very important. But above all the young players can take chances if they show us they can improve with us.’