I am in LA this week. Outside my hotel? Drip Doctors. That weird little place Samir Nasri went to get an intravenous drip. I am going to head in their tomorrow and ask for whatever he had.
Back onto Arsenal. Arteta landed a vote of no-confidence from Henry Winter on the Sunday Supplement. He’s strongly against the Spaniard, citing Diego Simeone as the man we need to sort out the soft underbelly of the weak Arsenal stars.
“Arsenal need a complete clear out – they need a strong, experienced, individual to address the failings,”
“Someone needs to go in and sort out that dressing room, to get rid of Shkodran Mustafi and to coach Hector Bellerin.
“How many world class players are there in that squad? Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang?
“They need a Diego Simeone type. Someone who is tough and can get into that soft dressing room, that soft boardroom – there is a soft executive feel at that club. There is a malaise that runs right through the club, which won’t be solved by Wenger going – he was only partly the cause of it. They need stronger individuals in there.”
“Arteta was part of the problem with the Wenger era in terms of he was supposed to be a leader there when the club was drifting. He’s got to explain how he can break that.”
Aggressive words there, and I’m sure many Arsenal fans will buy into them. But for me, they’re off the mark.
The notion of a big scary coach is an old-fashioned one. You can’t shout your way to success these days, and I have my doubts that fear and intimidation is how Diego is extracting the most from his players so consistently.
I also don’t know where the notion that Arteta isn’t tough comes from? He left Spain to play in France, before taking his pretty boy looks up to Glasgow (which is a pretty brutal league and city). Then he played at Everton for years, before coming to a broken Arsenal that was replacing Cesc and Nasri. We didn’t drop out the top 4 under Arteta. In his last season, we made 2nd for the first time since 2005.
This piece out of Per’s book gives you a good idea of how bad things were under Wenger.
The youth players who were promoted to the first team smiled at these exercises. They thought we were meditating. They were happy with the ball at their feet but for everything else there was a lack of desire. “I play football and go to training. That’s enough.”
Footballers are used to working only three hours a day. And out of the three hours they are at the training ground they are on their mobiles for half of that.
A lot of players don’t even know what maximum is – for them it is about having fun on the pitch. But there is more to being a professional than that.
In the autumn of 2017 an under-18 player came and asked whether we could sit down for a chat. I nearly fell over, I was so surprised. That hadn’t happened in the six and a half years I had been there. He wanted to speak to me about leadership.
I used a lot of energy trying to convince team-mates they should do more for their bodies and try new things. But working long term to improve their weaknesses? Hardly anyone.
I just cannot imagine being a young pro and not wanting to leech the experience from a World Cup winner like Per! I told you the real story about how average Wenger was would creep out once he retired, there’s a little snippet.
Malaise doesn’t come from the players, it comes from the manager. When you’re at Arsenal’s level, there isn’t really such thing as a lazy professional, just an unmotivated one.
Just look at how many players left Arsenal during the banter years and won major honours. Look at how many great players came in and went totally off the rails. It was never about the players, it was always about a bad manager who didn’t care about the details.
The weakness at the executive level that Henry mentioned appears to have been addressed. We’ve hired the exSporting Director of Barcelona. We’ve hired in the best scout in the world. We hired in an elite contracts guy. Stan has taken a back seat to Josh K, who knows if that’s a good move, all I know is Wenger is gone and Josh has been here 14minutes.
Ivan is making the right moves.
He’s also making an ambitious play with his manager. He’s ignoring calls for a big name… and remember, the same folk calling for a winner were probably celebrating LVG at United, and then his subsequent replacement in Mourinho.
No one guarantees success, and the people least likely to give you that are the ones that have already failed. Carlo doesn’t have the ideas to better Pep, especially at a team that doesn’t have anywhere near the resources he’s had at previous clubs. Enrique and Allegri have already thrown in the towel, both leaking that they’d need £200m to do the job. Arsenal need a coach who is ambitious to do great things with the tools he has at his disposal. Klopp is doing it at Liverpool at the moment, he didn’t bitch about money. He just cracked on.
Arteta is a risk, but for me, the rewards on offer are very exciting should it work out. Give me someone with desire over a hack just in it for the pay bump. Just look at Conte this season, all he wants is a payoff and a nice sabbatical. Chelsea means nothing to him.
If you’re going to write off Arteta, let’s make sure we’re slamming him for the right reasons. Critiquing him for not being a tough guy is a nonsense. Alluding to needing a strong manager to scare the exec suite is also a bit of a myth. I’ve read so many people say the club are only hiring Arteta because they can control him.
THINK ABOUT THAT
No club in the world wants to hire a manager they can’t control, because a business is a structure built on hierarchy, values and respect. Accepting an out of control manager shows you are weak and insecure about what you want. It’s certainly not something any club would actively seek out. We’ve literally just binned a manager who bossed the board, and that problem took 10 years to solve.
The main stick to beat Arteta with is experience. He hasn’t managed a top club, and that’s certainly an issue when it comes to optics. However, we’ve seen countless examples of rookies crushing it this season, so if his ideas and vision for the club were exciting in the interview and the references check out… then you have an exciting problem.
Hopefully we’ll find out the decision this week…
Pedro did you put money on it being Arteta? Why are you so amped?
Much better decision than Arteta; no idea why Pedro would be upset.
Because he’s Ivan’s man and Arteta was Ivan’s golden ticket
Not many seem to upset at Emery. That is a good thing. I would rather go with his experience vs Arteta. Arteta likely to succeed Pep. Our goal will be getting into top 4 again. Some astute selling and sign ons, should help our team do better. Need to motivate the players on away games- I think Emery will be scouting all opposition- handing players homework during training. not too shabby The defense needs a major overhaul. He is smart enough to know this. I bet this was talked about in the interview and he convinced the board that he… Read more »
Has Pedro binned me?
Look if Red’s on board you know the guy is good
Nope.
Re Pedro’s Twitter feed. Can we say sour gr*pes? 😉 No, Pedro, with all respect weak is hiring someone without any relevant experience because his best mate says he’s good. That’s weak. Proof, if any was needed, that Pedro was writing with an agenda… oh well Pedro, you win some you lose some. Let me take back what I said, a couple of days ago, when I branded Le Grove the new “Untold” of the Arteta era… that was unfair considering he hasn’t binned anyone with a contrary view… thanks for that Pedro. Actually allowing contrary views is what makes… Read more »
Guns
Ooh you are awful
But I like you …..
Marko
How can you talk about Pedro colluding with Ivan when he’s literally calling Ivan weak for not hiring Arteta?
Delighted we went for Emery good coach and a better choice than arteta
If this is true then its a great appointment considering the landscape. I’m excited! My choice quotes from DM article: “Emery, who managed Valencia at the time, was asked for his view of Mourinho’s hysterics. ‘Mourinho’s stance is that of a crybaby,’ Emery concluded. Along with his video analysts, Emery will spend up to twelve hours working on the cut. Players are loaded with information, both in the video suite at the training ground and then as a going-home present. ‘There were so many videos I ran out of popcorn,’ his former Valencia winger Joaquin joked. At Valencia, Emery would… Read more »
Welcome to the GSM effect..
Gazidis, Sanllehi, Mislintat.
Hope I’m the first to coin this? So any sort of acknowledgement when used wouldn’t be a bad idea
Ornstein at bbc seems to cinfirm it!!! I am so excited.. I VE BEEN SAYING FOR WEEKS NOW EMERY WAS NO BRAINER! He did wonders in Seville totally in line with our football philosophy young and experienced! Top choice!!
Wallace
You do know what country Valencia’s in? How often do small club’s finish above Barca & Madrid? It does happen but it’s more to do with them having an off season than the brilliance of another team.
Did this fella have the clear out at PSG ?
Was he responsible for single handily improving a player ?
Henry as No 2 (plus this helps with translating Emery’s words/tactics to the players) would be icing on the cake.
TallestTiz
Sorry but I coined MSG 10 minutes ago – you just look like a cheap knock off!
Emery has just won me some quid off the bookies…
I always felt he’ll be the one. Everything pointed at him, for me.
Arteta would have been a disaster for me. First loosing to the bookies, secondly having a half baked manager in the dugout was a scaring prospect for me
Marc
MSG and GSM
happy times!!
Ole
Good post
So he works with what’s given and seldom makes a fuss….
Seems like 5he board have got their man
A nodding dog in the back of the car
So we get knocked by a novice
Non English speaking Dick Emery is the flavour of the day, who will it be tomorrow?
The footballing world will be looking at all this and thinking “what a bunch of amateurs “
I wonder who his no.2 will be?
OleGunner
That post alone blows away the Arteta bullshit interview which could have come from any wannabe coach. At least we know what Emerys plan is. The babies will be abandoning the crèche 🙂
TallestTiz
You do know that showing a sense of humour on here isn’t allowed!
Tits
What price you get ?
Robert p
Will be the assistant
Or jens leamen
The more I read about Emery, the more I like this appointment. He’s smart, tactically-astute and demanding of his players.
We are definitely taking a step in the right direction, but let’s remember that our squad and starting XI have serious issues. It will be interesting to see what they will do on that front in this summer window.
New GK, CB and CDM to start, I’d say.
RSPC it will be ok pal. Emery is no spring chicken. I think he will find the support of the team and fans to be refreshing. La Liga and Ligue 1, are not bad. Both have excellent teams, so his experience in both is a plus. He just needs to be ruthless when letting go of the deadwood. Now is the time to set the tone, right from the start. Cannot be too nice to start… then ruthless later on. There are about 4-5 players who need to be sold right off. I am glad we have him on board.… Read more »
Marc
“Wallace – You do know what country Valencia’s in? How often do small club’s finish above Barca & Madrid?”
you’ve misunderstood. i wasn’t being critical.
TallestTiz
It’s BDSM.
BoarD Sanllehi Mislintat.
RSPC
Don’t be ridiculous. Emery managed some of the best players in the world at PSG. He’s not some little nobody who just follows others’ instructions. The point is he’s fine with presenting a list of players he wants in and out but allowing others to make the final decisions in that regard; his focus is on training, preparing and instructing the team — just as a modern manager’s should be.
I see the bashing point on emery is that he did not win a single match away in his last season with sevilla. Maybe y’all should remember sevilla wasn’t an elite club, he over achieved. Blowing up leads occasionally in cup competition is nothing, all teams have that in their records especially a Lionel messi inspired Barca. I mean ancelotti blew a 3-0 lead in a final to a Milan Baros led attack while having world best player kaka, 2 elite strikers Crespo & Shevchenko, the best passer in Pirlo, best defensive midfielder in Gattuso, and the best defenders in… Read more »
All in all – happy with the appointment.
Reaching his peak as a manager at 46, and very expressive and energetic on the touchline. Something we’ve been crying out for. Give us some spark and intensity.
I really think PSG is run like a circus, similar to what Real became in the Atletico era. They kept buying players with no real vision in mind. They had players that the manager has to play no matter what.
The fact that the hired Tuchel after sacking Emery says a lot about them.
I will judge him when the season starts. He gets my support just as Wenger did.
the last 2 or 3 Barca goals went through Neymar- Emery just needs to bring him along. 🙂
Poor Pedro ain’t taking this well:
https://twitter.com/LeGrove?lang=en-gb
Your Comment Here
The thing is this:
We just don’t know.
I’ll admit the Arteta option intrigued me but it was risky; very risky.
Arsenal were never going to go for a top tier choice, or rather an Allegri type manage was never going to take the arsenal job.
It appears we’ve opted for a safer option but one that could work.
I keep saying this, but if the guy doesn’t cut it- surely top is the initial goal- then we get someone else in. That’s how it works everywhere else.
I meant ‘top four’ is the initial goal
PEdro
He won’t be to upset he was championing us going for emery last week
So it’s all cool I think
Gunner2301 yup things are about to get real for our pampered lads.
Its the small things I”m reading that are catching my eye.
From twitter:
Layth
Verified account
@laythy29
54m54 minutes ago
More
Presumably Unai Emery will be accompanied to Arsenal by his loyal No2 Juan Carlos Carcedo Mardones. The former Espanyol B and Atletico Madrid B midfielder has been with Emery as assistant at UD Almeria, Valencia, Spartak Moscow and PSG. Not sure where Steve Bould will fit in…
Another:
Emery has had the same assistant at every club Juan Carlos. He’s an absolute lunatic. He never stops shouting.
Pedro on twitter
“I cannot believe Ivan bottle it. Signing a manager beaten by Monaco last season, the guy who gave up a 4 goal lead in the CL, someone who doesn’t speak English. If you can’t do it with PSG, what hope does he have with Arsenal? A staggering decision. So weak”.
was it not the same monaco that sent Pep and City out of the CL?
So have been watching a lot of videos on emery’s game tactics, my conclusion is:
1. Xhaka is going to be central to his plan
2. He’s going to buy a dribbling winger.
3. Ozil will never play on the wings, midfield or bench.
Bam ford
I’m a bit under whelemed by it all to be honest
People saying he was behind Manuel pep an Rafa in their quest for a manager.
Wonder what the stroller thinks
We will have to see how it all develops
“was it not the same monaco that sent Pep and City out of the CL?”
Yea, the Monaco line is a bit odd. Jardim was touted as manager because of the awesome side he created that season, but its also being used to beat Emery with? Pick the narrative.
Either Jardim is the “best coach in Ligue un” (Pedros words), or his Monaco team should’ve been dispatched in Emerys debut season in Paris. Makes no sense.
Emery has a great profile, even if I’m a bit flattened by the “safe” appointment it is.
Thank goodness common sense ruled. Carol was my choice but have no problem with this appointment. The Guy is not old and is tactically astute. Yes he lost to Barca but that was basically down to dodgy refereeing decisions and play acting by Suarez and Neymar. Arteta was never the right man, given his serious lack of managerial experience at this juncture. His first jobs are to sort out the defence and Ozil. Interesting days are coming.
Another:
Emery has had the same assistant at every club Juan Carlos. He’s an absolute lunatic. He never stops shouting.
That’s what I like to hear after all those years of silent Steve. The players can start to earn their money now. Don’t be surprised if Ozil is one of the first that wants out. It would be a blessing if it were true.
Carol would be an exciting choice but I meant Carlo.
It was only a matter of time for pedro to be betrayed by Ivan.
I think Ivan did well. I mean look at this board. Scary to see how unified its been today after the news broke. You would think the sky is falling.
There are some skeptics but that is natural but no one has any pitchforks out ( ast least for now)
Ivan had his ass on the line with this. The board or whomever did the right thing bringing in experience like Emery has
Unai Emery set to sign a two year deal…welcome to the modern Arsenal
No more long drawn out dictatorship..shows us results or move on
Well Pedro has his pitchfork out, and a couple of cocktails in him already
Marc
Then, the king of “lol”, RedTruth shouldn’t be here
Tomorrow’s post should be interesting, it would appear that Pedro isn’t too happy.
Hell hath no fury like a blogger scorned….
RSPC
A fairly good amount here in Nigeria, but laughable probably if I convert it to pounds… Roughly £38 only
Sanmi
Why Xhaka?
Balague’s thoughts and peek behind the scenes.
It’s a pretty good vid imo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PojWdO2hY8g
Elmo
That sounds a not meh and off
This Emery looks the business.
Unai it is. Could have been better but could also have been a lot worse.
Up The Arse.
Guns of Sf
He likes his midfield base being a ball sprayer especially to wings, to target his pacy wingers when the midfield base and one of the other 2 CMs have drawn out opponents out of shape. Xhaka is the only one with that quality In our team.
Elneny will never be a 1st eleven under him.
He doesn’t allow his midfield out of shape. RAMSEY might have a problem here
How he makes use of Rambo to be seen.
Jacky Boy signed in the knick of time… perhaps Unai would have not renewed his deal had he known.
Rambo I think should be sold. We can get what we can for him… upgrade the team with the $
I think you’d be surprised with wilshere. He like a player like wilshere I reckon. Ability in tight spaces.
Iwobi will feature regularly too. The only genuine pacy wingers we have. He’s got close control too
Emery has had the same assistant at every club Juan Carlos. He’s an absolute lunatic. He never stops shouting.
Finally we’ll have some instructions from the bench if things aren’t going our way
I ll roll with this manager for at least 2 years.
He is far more of a pragmatic choice than mr Mikel “perfect hair” Arteta.
Lets see what the man can do
Well, ‘bold and brave’ went out of the back window and ‘tried and trusted’ came in the front door. On the face of it, a sensible decision. Emery has experience and success as a manager in his cv, Arteta does not. But what does it say about Arsenal? ‘Overwhelmingly voted in by BoD’ makes me groan. What does that bunch of yes-men stand for or know? An abject collection, at best. And what does it say about Gazidis? Without a doubt Arteta was his man. If he believed in him, he should have stuck by him. A failure of nerve,… Read more »
Unai, duo, tres, quotro place!
I feel that Emery has an important decision to make regarding özil and Ramsey as I can’t see him playing both as it affects the balance of the team. It could end up being a straight choice between those 2 for the cam role with 2 holding mids behind. Does he go for guile and patience (özil) with intelligent use of the ball in the attacking 3rd or does he go for Ramsey’s high energy and late runs into the box. Whatever he chooses will determine the style that Arsenal will play under him. If he keeps both I think… Read more »
Nobody predicted Emery, barring Kike Marin. And they follow each other on twitter. Guess we now know whom we’ll be getting our future transfer goss from.
Strange one for me this appointment. Wreaks of cold feet and settling for safest choice, rarely does that pay off.
Hoping i’m wrong but don’t see how you arrive at Emery with likes of Jardim available.
Passionate and ambitious modern Spanish coach tries his hand in the most competitive major league in Europe. I don’t think it’s wildly different to appointing Klopp at Liverpool. If he can raise our squad as he raised Valencia’s I think we’ll have a proper season on our hands.
Thanks for the video ole ballague knows his man
Pierre Ozil is staying with his fat contract. Rambo the one likely to leave. I hope he leaves to better pastures- and wins something big. As far as Mr Flu is concerned, Emery needs to have a one on one wit him, to review expectations and who is in charge. No more calling in sick, putting in weak performances. Shit, we may even see a spike in Ozil…. can he perform to his ability on a regular basis. If Emery can get the most of our him, then well done. I still think that he slows our attack down personally.… Read more »
It’s done now? Onwards and forwards The Arsenal!!!! I’m excited. Could have been better, could have been worse, could have been x….. it’s done! This is what I looked forward to when I wanted Wenger gone – change. I hope it works out. I like what I’m reading and hearing about our new coach.
Great Appointment! Not my first choice, but at least it isn’t Arteta. Emery did good things for Sevilla on a tight budget. During his time there he was known for going over tons of video analysis on his next opponent and handing out folders to his players. Love it!
I would love to see the faces of the players after training on the first day, when he hands them homework on flash drives. Everyone knows the story, so all of them will plug it in their computer- just to make sure! To make sure they are not going to be called out in front of all! That story is classic. SO Anti wenger I love it! its like the teacher you had in school who would randomly call on people in class to review the homework. If you didnt, you would look dumb- great motivator to get your homework… Read more »
“2015-16, his final season at Sevilla, he didn’t register one single away win all season.”
This just scared the shit out of me
KC I was typing something similar as you… good timing
Yeah nice post Guns. Looking forward to a manager that prepares his players for success.
Yes I love the heavy scouting on teams. I dont care who they are. No longer will be rely on the “wenger Arsenal way” of playing football, that can beat anyone. What a stupid idealist philosophy that was so unpragmatic.
Wengers inability to change is legendary.
Hell it took MSG to help push him along and out the door.
Emery will have a better time with Arsenal with player management. PSG was a shit show of primadonnas.
“Emery will have a better time with Arsenal with player management. PSG was a shit show of primadonnas.”
Good point.
Probably good though that he’s had some experience with primadonnas. Might help with Ozil.
So relieved to see that sanity has prevailed. I’m quite ready to forgive Pedro last few days of lunacy, under condition that he never mentions Arteta again.
Ozil is the one probably most panicking. He is our Neymar as I said earlier. The big fat fish in the tank. I think we will see a bump in Ozil’s production. I have a feeling that in the interview- that question came up- how do you plan on using Ozil? and What ideas to you have to sort out our defense? I can see Emery busting out a video he made or a slideshow stating just how that would happen. He sold it to the board so lets see him put it into action. I would love to see… Read more »
If Emery appointment is a gamble, at least it is a calculated one. He had won three Europa League trophies, and that could be our best chance of getting into CL next season.
I wish Unai Emery the best at Arsenal for the good of all Arsenal fans.
“how do you plan on using Ozil? ”
Cleaning the toilets of the Emirates ??
That could be good for him.
Also, hats off to the Arsenal board for chosen strategy in this matter. Pure genius. Find number of naïve souls (hello Pedro) and feed them crap about Arteta getting the job, knowing full well that most of supporters will see it for a lunacy that it was, then week later announce Emery as a coach – and hey, presto! Majority of Arsenal fans, already disheartened by Arteta roumors, will now get really excited about Emery’s appointment, which would not be the case if he was announced last week, when we still thought Allegri might be an option.
Pedro’s next post title : “how Ivan has let me down (for the last time).”
Spot on EdTheRed. Genius indeed.
Mr Emery, you are naughty but I do like you.
Get the obvious joke in. Boom boom. Showing my age there.
“Roughly £38 only”
That’s about 20k. Enough money to declare for boys.
3 Europa League titles not to be sniffed at.
3 more than you know who.
Great wind up Pedro. You got the traffic you wanted for the last week. Hats off to you! Can’t believe someone as obviously smart as you are believed that Arteta, BS so deduced your agenda as business driven. Still would have preferred Jardim with the way our finances are but happy with Emery. I hope Arteta cuts his teeth with a lsmaller club are does well enough to be considered in a few years time. Let the revolution begin………………. EKB now I guess. ES Didn’t you get the call or be told at your director’s lunch?lol Joking aside let’s hope… Read more »
Arteta didn’t have any experience and tainted by association with Wenger failure years.
Need a fresh start with outsider who will drain the N5 swamp. MAGA.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5754717/Arsenal-appoint-Unai-Emery-new-manager.html
Emery + Thierry Henry
Totally expect tomorrow it all changes, media and fans jumped on a band wagon once again and arsenal go right out of left field and bring in jurgen klinnsmann
It really looks like anyone is considered to be good until they arrive at Arsenal. Emery is a very good coach. You don’t win 3 back to back Europa league trophies and get to coach PSG without being good. Now that he’s signed for Arsenal, the narrative is all negative. We are just unbelievable. Many years ago I commented that Arsenal fans always think what they haven’t got is better than what we have. It’s amusing to observe the nostalgia with which some speak of Giroud after he left for Chelsea. This could turn out to be a really really… Read more »
Very interesting that some think Poch (who has won nothing) is better than Emery. What’s the criteria?