Unai Emery arrived at Arsenal on his 555th as coach and was told his contract was to be terminated. I suspect he knew what was coming judging by his body language last night. His staff will also leave the club with him.
The hire was a disaster from start to finish. Raul put the Spaniard’s name on the table when Ivan Gazidis wobbled on Arteta during the search and select process. In a fit of panic no one ran his credentials through a quick Google search. No one picked up the phone to people that had worked with him in the past. No one consulted the data people. The deal was rammed through at such a pace, not one person seemed to raise a red flag about his terrible English. Interview to hire in 8 days.
We paid the price. Almost all of the problems faced by Emery seemed to revolve around his lack of ability to communicate both verbal and non-verbally.
He couldn’t command a room. The man had zero presence. No X factor. People laughed when I raised that, but let’s be honest, if you don’t have an impressive stage presence, you are going to struggle to maintain the attention of 21-year-old boys in a football environment. Players ripped him behind his back, to his face, even Sky presenters weighed in on the action. Disrespect happens to people that don’t have the magic. Wenger had the magic, Mourinho has it, so does Poch… Emery is right there with Glen Roeder when it comes to persona and it dripped through every single press conference. In fact, I hear that press conferences were barely attended towards the end, that says something, doesn’t it?
He couldn’t connect his vision to output on the pitch. In fact, it was questionable if there was a vision there to start with. If Emery was good at anything though, it was talking up a game he couldn’t deliver on. He told the fans he wanted to be the protagonist, when in fact he was a conservative pragmatist. He said he’d fix the defence, he broke it further. He promised us exciting football, he emptied stadiums.
I wrote very early on that Unai Emery represented our version of David Moyes. We’re now heading into the difficult second hire. Inexperienced execs will clamour for experience over substance, just like they did at Manchester United when they moved in on an LVG that was well past his prime.
This is not the time for regressing into bad ideas. We hired ‘experience’ last time and look where it landed us. We have to be looking to where the future of football is going. If we’re in the power and pace era right now, we have to peer around the corner to where the trends are going and find a coach who can take us there. Intense possession-based football is likely going to make a comeback and with young coaches like Thiaggo Motta making claims about 2-7-2 formations and controlling the game through the midfield, the evidence is mounting. Huge focus will be given to off the ball movement as well. A new type of coaching where the spaces you occupy are the tackles of yesteryear. We are not big enough to make a ‘tried and true’ coach work for us, so we need to go where the new thinking is.
‘This is all so hipster’ is something I hear a lot, but listen, looking to the future might feel like an oat milk latte served in a ‘goat support’ cafe in Primrose Hill, but it’s not, it’s absolute basics if you want to succeed. Pep was lambasted because of his ideas when he came to England. The English press were literally slamming the guy because he likes to experiment and push the game forward. Don’t be that person. If you need any evidence as to why, simply look a what just happened to Arsenal after we hired a mainstream Starbucks filter coffee.
Arsenal need to be bold, we need to look at what clubs like RB Leipzig, Gladbach, Rangers and Chelsea are doing. Go young, find someone that can galvanise the fans with future football, let’s not do the top 4 equivalent of calling Sam Allardyce to move us forward marginally over 15 months. Bring in a coach you can build around, don’t let Carlo bring in 18 of his mates with a spice of football that was bland 5 years ago.
What is desperate for us all regardless of the type of coach we desire is knowing that Raul is playing a key role in this decision.
That man is not good for Arsenal football club, he should be kept in check by a CEO that has oversight on him. The Spaniard and Vinnai have been the worst combo since Houllier and Evans. Our organizational structure is meek and so is the performance of it. The lack of strong leadership will continue to kill us, and in times like now, we really could do with a CEO that has a clue.
Raul will be stacking the deck in favour of people he knows. He was happy to jam through his preferred candidate last time, knowing full well he didn’t have the basics for the job. The fact he’s pushing Nuno tells you immediately where he wants to take us… to a super agent paradise.
Most fans don’t want that sort of future. It might seem glitzy, but when you boil it down, you simply open yourself up to be a fee cow for someone that wants to trade players around their personal network. Those systems are opaque, they lack accountability, they move the club away from being a meritocracy, they almost always end in tears. No super-agent cares about your club, they only care about their fees.
That’s why the power vacuum at Arsenal is so incredibly dangerous because really, a proper CEO would be laser-focused on Raul after this debacle and the mess of the summer.
They’d be asking questions like:
- Why did Sven leave?
- Why is there still no chief scout?
- How did you come to the decisions on transfers last summer?
- Why did you spend so much money on a 32-year-old centre back?
- Can you replay the thinking behind hiring Unai Emery?
- Knowing the history of Nuno and Mendes, can you explain why you think this is a good idea?
- Can you show me how much money we have spent on agents fees over the past two years?
There’s no one guarding the chicken coup, and that would be fine if you had someone competent running the show, but it’s increasingly looking like Raul is the fox and he’s coming to town with his mates until he spies another chicken coup.
Josh Kroenke, the man who told us to get excited, let the club pull next years transfer budget forward, and seemingly blow it on a mess of players. I cannot deny that I wasn’t excited by the moves, but I’m just fan looking at a tasty cracker in the desert after not eating for 10 years. Our first summer of ‘contacts’ recruitment has been a disaster outside of Martinelli. The hiring approach run by Raul was horrendous. This season so far has been handled in appalling fashion, from Ozil, to Xhaka, to the horrendous press releases.
Now we’re out here hoping phase two of the project won’t be just as opaque and awful? The very fact the club is only just now building a shortlist tells you all you need to know about our leadership. We should have had a name ready to go just like Spurs did. That there’s now going to be a fight to the death for the next name is exactly the sort of incompetence I fear driving a terrible decision. Emery’s form this season was not a surprise, we should have known it was going to end by Christmas because many of us were predicting that last season.
We need a complete reset. The club has to move away from ‘contacts’ back to the footing Sven sold to us. There has to be aggressive moves from Edu to control the direction of the technical side. He needs to tell us what the future plan is. Then he needs to deliver something the fans can get behind that doesn’t have the paw prints of Raul on it.
Manchester United are the most powerful footballing entity on the planet, they can afford to continue making horrible decisions with their manager. Arsenal cannot afford another mismanaged hire. We are on a precipice, if we make another bad decision, it could be curtains for us for the next ten years… and you know who won’t be around for the clean-up? Raul.
Be careful what you clamour for… this is a definitive moment for Arsenal, pray the club doesn’t fuck it up.
Good luck to Freddie Ljungberg.
Samesong
Do you not think that if we doubled Rodgers wages to 10 mill a year he wouldn’t come .
“Worst case scenario is that Freddie will at least steady the ship.” Graham62 – unless you’re dead, things can always get worse. I don’t understand why you think guy with multiple domestic and European trophies is incompetent but novice with no senior experience is certain to be successful. I think it is interesting that people argue that Emery is useless while at same time saying we need three or four world class players if we want to compete in league. Emery had impossible task but he was well paid to be transition coach, I wish he could have at least… Read more »
Jwl
No , he’s useless.
From Pedro’s tweetline:
Kaveh Solhekol
@SkyKaveh
“Arsenal head of football Raul Sanlehi has links with Jorge Mendes. Technical director Edu has links with Kia Jooranchian. The two agents are likely to be involved in appointment of new head coach.”
Why would Kia Jooranchian be involved in the appointment of Arsenal’s new coach?
Look at his portfolio. It’s paltry and shit and doesn’t have a present coach/manager in it.
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bertolucci-sports/beraterfirma/berater/724
Lots and lots of scaremongering going on here.
As for the signing of David Luiz whoever was responsible for that needs shooting and yes we are looking at you Edu.
I’m astounded to see there are still people who think emery was right for us. I was one of his biggest supporters first season and I was firmly sold on the fact second season he would have a clear plan.
It soon became obvious there were major issues with his management abilities and his communication, and he completely lost the dressing room.
He had to go and he needs to go manage in Spain where he could clearly communicate better.
Pierre my understanding was that Same does think that.
Cagigao scouted Martinelli and was responsible for him coming to Arsenal.
Edu not involved as some believed.
Emery has won multiple trophies, Pierre, there are many managers out there who would like to be as ‘useless’ as Unai.
jwl
The thing is, he was incompetent.
You don’t need to be an Einstein to see that Emery was way out of his depth.
Freddie is untried but that doesn’t mean he is not good enough. Have some faith.
The photo of him standing with the players today spoke volumes. Probably the first time in 18 months the players could understand a direct communication.
The simple truth is that Emery was “useless” at Arsenal FC, no matter how many trophies he won elsewhere.
You should be happy he’s gone.
Rodgers, Pochettino, Nuno judging by the various rumours seem to be the favourites.
Arsenal apparently prefer EPL experience in the manager.
Cesc
Well if the choice is out of those 3 I can’t say I’m excited by the options.
Poch – Just can’t see it happening.
Nuno – just feel underwhelmed.
Rogers – can’t stand him, beyond that I think he’ll always be a coach who over performs at a Leicester / Everton but falls short at a big club.
Cagigao? Surely not apparently it’s all through Raul and we don’t have a head scout. Ah no but seriously who do we thank for Martinelli and Saliba? It’s usually a couple of people but usually one person responsible for the bad signings
To change the subject , what has gone under the radar are the 2 excellent assists from Martinelli in his short time on the pitch in the last 2 games. The cut back v Frankfurt shows his awareness of what is around him on the pitch . The assist for Lacazette showed his ability to go past a player and deliver a telling cross with his weaker foot. It wouldn’t surprise me to see freddie give him a start in the next few games as most aspects of his game look very good. Goalscoring Heading Pace Crossing with either foot.… Read more »
Graham the man has been sacked, enough with the character assassination.
Ljunberg was a part of the incompetent coaching staff yet you consider a better number one than the man he did nothing to assist. Last man he assisted at Wolfsburg got sacked too, it’s telling Wolfsburg sacked him along with him.
Wait a few games before proclaiming him better.
Leftie
“Pierre my understanding was that Same does think that.”
Ok , must have read it wrong ..cheers
Pierre
What would Nketiah say if he found out you were flirting with another young striker? A player who wouldn’t have got matches if Nketiah hadn’t gone out on loan and played in the EL and League Cup.
Didn’t Mourinho say he’d never coach at Spurs?
Being jobless opens your eyes especially after being sacked.
Marko
The rule on here is if we recruit a good player it’s down to Sven (even though he’s left) if we recruit a player who doesn’t hit the ground running instantly he’s completely fucking useless and not only is Sanllehi responsible but he also overpaid and gave the agent £100 million on top of the fee.
Think chances are pretty increasing now we land Pochettino,he’s available and was disgracefully binned by the enemy He would be mad to turn us down as this is a great opportunity for him also to redeem himself as a competent coach after flagging badly at the end for the totts, This is also bearing the fact we’re also taking a gamble on him as he has won diddly squat as coach so far Rodgers won’t be moving mid-season and Allegri won’t unite the fanbase neither does he have a pretty to the eye style of play Poch could do with… Read more »
Marc
Say what you like, the Nketiah loan has been a waste of 4 months for him , as I said it would .
He and Martinelli would have both played similar roles as to what Aubameyang and Lacazette play .
Aubamayang and Lacazette have played unnecessarily in Europa and league cup ( I think) when Nketiah could have shown his capabilities( or not).
Anyway, Freddie will call him back asap.
Well, here we go with the next chapter. It was too much to hope I suppose for us to get lucky straight after Wenger. I wouldn’t mind Veira actually. Sounds good to me.
The same sort who was banging on about Freddie not having his licence has been disproved today I wouldn’t pay mind to what he says to smear Raul. He’s a compulsive fibber/poundshop ITK.
Tits
Not only that but Sanllehi was having secret meetings in public places with him and had offered him the Arsenal job when Emery was sacked.
Clearly Mourinho couldn’t wait the extra 9 days.
Pierre
Ljungberg will not be calling Nketiah back from loan. The club have already decided to do that.
Leftside
I hadn’t heard that the Ljungberg pro license was bullshit. Where did you hear that?
“Interesting to read it was Kroenke who let Emery have more time.”
And mostly, very surprising!! Lol
Marc,
Valentin ofc. He wrote countless of words how Freddie cannot be a manager for more than 3 months or something. Just like the rest of his inside info lol.
Marc
I would be surprised if Pochettino did arrive.
If he did though, would that be something that excited you?
Marc it was your best mate Valentin typing that furiously for anybody who would read on here.
Reading rumors in yellow media and accepting them for pure truth. Surely people are smarter than this.
“Well, here we go with the next chapter. ”
@Jeff, do you mean the “next level” ??
(Sorry couldn’t resist…)
Leftside
Didn’t realise that had all started with Valentin.
That guy has some real issues.
You’d be surprised Rap!
So glad the fraud has been kicked out, his minions can continue with the bickering under whatever guise.
Let’s kick on!
Meanwhile, I have a really good feeling about Freddie.
He can’t do worst than Emery anyway…. good luck to him!!
The golden rule is, whomever the bookmaker makes favourite, they will normally be correct.
Unless it’s Emery. No fucker saw that except the obese Gambon.
I think Arsenal are in the screwing this up business. I do not believe that anyone at the club knows what the next step is. Not one.
I think a barren time awaits and we will see a bit of a merry go around for a few years until Stan and his ilk piss off…if ever.
Screw the club.
Cesc
Out of those 3 he’s without doubt the best option. He is a very good coach, my concerns are 1) does he need a break to clear his head? 2) I worry his ego runs too high for someone who hasn’t won anything yet.
The reply to those are 1) they a change is s good as a rest. 2) The Spud’s have always been bottlers how funny would it be if he won his first trophy at Arsenal.
Freddie will do well to give the kids a go now,nothing to lose or fear there,hopefully he has learnt enough from the mistakes made by mr Emery that ultimately landed him the sack
No Xhaka,papaSok or Luiz
Just give the likes of Martinelli,Saka,Willock a proper go now and ask them to play without fear in a very clear formation.
Marc
“Ljungberg will not be calling Nketiah back from loan. The club have already decided to do that.”
Do you have inside information ?..
Guns
Are you getting your kid 1 lump of coal for Christmas or 2?
GOH
Haha one day Gambon’s gonna give you a haymaker.
Pierre
I’m on first name terms with Sanllehi’s cousins dog walker.
Marc Agreed. I was thinking he might need a break but you could be right about the change. At Spurs it was the same set of players etc every year and that was always going to lead to stagnation. Maybe as well having basic issues to fix at Arsenal mean he comes in feeling recharged. It’s not like at Spurs where he basically hit the ceiling of their abilities. At Arsenal we’re on the floor right now and the sky is the limit. We do need him to come and stamp his personality all over the place, have to be… Read more »
Did Pedro include the 12 weeks limit for Ljungberg in a piece?
Marc
In other words no …
and you call out Valentin for writing bullshit.
At the very least under Ljungberg the players are going to be more energetic, they will look like they’re giving it more out there and I think he will dip into the youth players a bit more.
If for no other reason than they are his. They are the equivalent to his signings.
Martinelli has to start at the weekend.
Cesc
The other issue is that the Spud’s got to a stage where they needed to be able to add a bit of star player magic. With the stadium move they can’t even pay their existing players market value.
Maybe Sanllehi can sell him the project and where we’re going?
After all no one expected us to do the transfers we did in the summer.
Holding will hopefully see some quality minutes now
Far and away our best CB but was shafted
behind chuckle clowns papaSok and Luiz by the confused Emery
Guy really did a job on the lad.thank God he’s gone.
Guys, I know you really want to be fed, but ignore the nonsense going around in the papers. Every Marc and Marko wants to grab some attention on this and they would dream up things to have a slice of the glamour.
Our guys in charge are going to chill for a few days having put Freddie in charge, they will reconvene with two questions on the table: WHO and WHEN.
The WHEN will largely depend on the next two or three results. If Freddie does well, permanent appointment is delayed till May.
So let’s talk about the team.
Marc There’s also a lot of players in here I could see Pochettino liking. Pepe has got nowhere near his ability level and doubtless Pochettino would be looking at him together with Auba and thinking there’s an area I can develop right away. He’s got some great young talent like Martinelli at the club who fits the type of player he likes. He’s got Saliba arriving in June who Spurs (potentially with him pushing for it) were chasing. He could be sold on it. If he comes here with the intention of making a statement we could really have something… Read more »
The new version of Boring boring Arsenal has arrived.
Nothing to do with the GG teams, this is literally boring boring Arsenal.
Pierre
I’m basing my comment on an over view of the club and changes we’ve made. We’ve changed the set up and now have someone who’s responsible for sorting the loans and monitoring them. There were stories back in the summer how 3 clubs had come in for him and we’d accessed their “offer”, we also put in minimum playing clauses into the loan deal.
With that in mind as he isn’t getting enough minutes why wouldn’t we recall him?
I do however believe that he’ll be sent back out of loan though.
Hope we put in for Rodgers. Great manager still very young and plays creative attacking football. If he wasn’t british people would be dripping wet over him.
I’m guessing the Kroenkes would love for Freddie to have a good couple of months so they can give him the job. Cheaper than experienced managers.
Spanish journo saying Arteta is the favourite. One Arsenal covering journo tweeting that Rodgers has many admirers in the Arsenal hierarchy. But, it will be difficult (meaning expensive) to get him to leave Leicester.
Interesting that Sanllehi had dinner with Thierry Henry recently. He was inquiring about the coaching situation. I knew there was a reason Thierry was a regular at the Emirates in the last few months. He sensed the opportunity.
Cant be too long.
Imbibed too much champagne today and been busy counting and recounting my investments ( think lush hectares on the Namibian coastal plains.)
I did note with interest, however
David Ornstein- stating that Raul was pushing hard for an extended contract for his Clown in the summer.
Can you believe the temerity of this man?
We have got rid of one scoundrel today.
The fat little David Sullivan lookalike now has the bullseye on his back .
He has to leave The Arsenal ASAP.
On no condition- must he choose the next manager.
bris
I haven’t made any assertions as to who the new manager should be.
If anything I’ve been honest and said I really don’t know who the best option is.
I just know there’s a few I’d hate to see at the club.
CG
” think lush hectares on the Namibian coastal plains”
Climate change is going to fuck you over royally then!
Mustafi will return ..he , along with holding are our best pairing .
It wouldn’t surprise me to see Freddie put Luiz or chambers as the DM to give protection.
Guendouzi, Saka., sokratis will be taken out of the firing line for now .
The midfield should be about one thing until we build confidence…….discipline.
And where the fvck is Binford?
Guy owes the blog an apology for choosing to be a grade A idiot and not willing to remove himself from Emery’s ass despite been pleaded by proper students of the game the man is a dud
RH
Just stating the truth.
Please don’t tell other posters what they can and cannot say on here. For the past six months Emery was “useless” and that’s a fact.
You should be elated that Emery has gone.
No one really knows what’s going to happen with Freddie but one things for sure, at least we know he’ll be able to communicate a wee bit more coherently about things to both the players and ourselves.
One positive already then.😀
I should add that there’s a good chance that climate change will fuck us all over!
No attack on CG there!
lol Pierre is relying on Mustafi and David Luiz.
Pierre
Mustafi is fucking useless and was before Emery came in. The only difference is he’s been out of sight out of mind to a degree.
Where is Holding by the way?
And thanks for the post.
Absolutely outstanding blogging..
If a good coach was given this team, he would need to think outside the box to connect the dots.
Auba Laca Pepe
Martinelli
Luiz Torrey
Tierney Holding Chambers Bellerin
Leno
OR
Auba Laca Pepe
Martinelli
Ozil
Luiz Torrey
Holding Mustafi/Sok Chambers
Leno.
Pierre
“The midfield should be about one thing until we build confidence…….discipline.”
Yeah David Luiz and discipline go together like a horse and carriage don’t they.
bris
That second team is horrible beyond belief.
I can imagine a Spud supporter coming up with that in a wet dream.
Fucking hell.
What is this about Luiz at DM?
Luiz is only half capable now of sweeping up at CB. He struggles with any player running directly at him with the ball. His positioning is suspect.
Do you want him at DM because of some long raking passes he could pull off now and again?
Jesus we are in Xhaka territory again.
Marc
Wunderkind will get no coal but he will get a candle to go looking for some.
Mustafi has been poor for a while, but he’s better than Rob Holding. Not Rob’s biggest fan, but he has looked even slower than usual since he’s come back from injury. Some awful performances from him.
Poch is an also ran type of guy. Always bottles the big occasion.
Leftside
Gambon’s got no cardio.
Ishola
At least if Luiz was subbed he’d move off at a decent pace.
Anyway, Freddie will call him back asap.
No he won’t. Not his call my guess is that he’ll be looking at Norwich maybe Brighton but no further. I don’t know why you keep bringing up Nketiah Martinelli has already shown that he’s not needed at all. Two years younger and has already scored more goals for Arsenal than he ever has in just 11 games.
Guns
In that case I’m glad I didn’t suggest something more explosive.
Marc!
I wasn’t accusing you😀😀😀😀
I merely used Marc and Marko to relieve Dick and Harry.
Though l always love the opportunity to push you around😎😎😎😎😎
Marc
“At least if Luiz was subbed he’d move off at a decent pace.”
lol he is getting slower by the day is Luiz.
He would be an absolute nightmare from a defensive viewpoint if he were to play DM for any prolonged period.
“Pierre is relying on Mustafi and David Luiz.”
No Ozil ?? Wtf ??
bris
OK now I need to know whether I’m Dick or Harry!
Think we’ll get a rare at Norwhich now and Freddie will be up and running
They’ve been leaking goals like sieve all season and the likes of Pepe and Auba should be leaking their lips at the prospect
‘That second team is horrible beyond belief.’
Marc,
Because of Ozil and Mustafi?
*a rare win
bris
That and 3 at the back – I’m really not a fan of 3 at the back.
Ishola
Your judgement has always been flawed(unlike mine) , so I will take any criticism from you with a pinch of salt…
‘That and 3 at the back – I’m really not a fan of 3 at the back.’
Marc,
Conte won the league with three at the back, It’s a beautiful counter attack concept if you know how to operate it.
bris
Still doesn’t mean I like it or think we have the right balance of players to make it work.
Breaking news : Vieira about to leave Nice.
lol Pierre
Don’t pretend you know anything about players regarding off the ball and defending.
You are a typical big Wengerite who only cares about flair and players on the ball.
You told us Lichtsteiner looked a good signing after his first few matches.
Unai going out respectfully though credit where credit is due. Some nice messages from the players and then that googly eyed fucker only posts a picture of himself training with Freddie. Classy as always Mesut. Weird how most of his posts seem to be convenient shots of him training. My guess is that he’s got David LaChappelle or Annie Lebowitz on standby at all times to get that very rare shot of him breaking a sweat training. Petty cunt
‘Still doesn’t mean I like it or think we have the right balance of players to make it work.’
Marc,
Anything to stop the bleeding is fine by me. It would be too much for me if we didn’t make CL this season.
Marko
Agreed.
Ozil remains a despicable character.
Let’s see what Freddie does with him.
Watch this space.
Spot on from Ozil….staying true to himself, the only one who stood up to Emery .
Why would he come out with a load of sentimental bullshit to a manager who has tried(and failed) to destroy his Arsenal career
Graham
I said he will outlast Emery ….he’s done his job of getting Emery out of the club ,so as far as I’m concerned he deserves a statue.
Pierre
And the rest of us will want one for Sanllehi when he gets the £18 million a year waste of space Ozil out of the club.
Pierre
Irrespective of Emery’s shortcomings, it still doesn’t cover over Ozil’s own failings and appalling attitude.
Ozil has to prove himself now.
He has no other option.
Good the change is done. Emery has been dreadful for some time now. I hope Freddie does well. But shouldn’t be given the job on permanent basis no matter how he performs. I fear we might end up like Utd with OGS. I’m uncomfortable with Poch. He needs a break first before thinking about taking any job. No matter how FL performs, we should get a substantive coach. Is FL done with his badges or does his current badge allow him to manage for the reported 12weeks. Plz someone help me out. Pedro, I remember sometime back when most here… Read more »
Prove himself to be what exactly?
Worth 18m a year? Not in a million years
He is a petty dude who 80% of the German national team didn’t bother wishing well when he retired blaming everyone else but himself.
Nothing to see here.
Yeh, that’s right, a statue of him playing Fortnite.
What a guy!
Not Ozil’s biggest fan but even I will rather him than Emery, also know for sure majority of the fanbase are with me in that thinking,the guy has at least contributed to a few recent success for the club whereas Emery is a failure and a nobody.
He wasn’t too bad against Southampton at home tbf. Ozil that is.
But we are talking a home match against one of the bottom feeders in the league.