As Unai Emery has completed his first 50 matches as Arsenal coach it has been revealed that he has the best record, by some distance, of any other manager in our history. Here are the figures….
Most wins in their first 50 games with Arsenal…
32 – Unai Emery
28 – George Allison
27 – George Graham
27 – Herbert Chapman
25 – Jack Crayston
24- Tom Whittaker
24 – George Swindin
23 – Arsène Wenger
23 – Don Howe
Emery is very happy with his record, but as he points out, the season is far from over and we still have a lot to achieve and he is still yet to achieve his target of returning the Gunners to the Champions League. He told Arsenal.com: “I am proud of the players, of the club, of the supporters, of our situation now with the possibility in the Europa League semi-final and in the Premier League to fight for third and fourth position, to play next year in the Champions League. But we know that every day is going to be difficult and in the key moments we need to be focused 100 per cent on the next match and everybody is concentrated to do the best and all we can to take and to give our supporters a good moment.
“Our achievements come with progress. This is a process with the players, the new coaches and new staff. I was respecting a lot before Arsene was done because he worked here for a long time, improving a lot and helping this club to become bigger. I’m here now to continue this process. It’s something different, with my personality, my ideas and style, but above all I’ve kept a lot of positives that he worked here. After a new spirit and a new energy, I can give this club. But above all it’s a big responsibility with big ambition, because we want to play Champions league again, and we want to be closer to the possibility of taking a title.
“Also, with each match we can show our supporters our quality, work, spirit and energy, playing with intensity, aggressiveness and scoring a lot. Each match can give us a different situation we can enjoy with our supporters, playing and watching intense matches with a good result, but above all doing it in a good way.”
We have to admit that it hasn’t always been pretty and Emery has had to put up with a horrendous injury list at certain times of the season, but the consensus is that he has actually come through with flying colours so far given the tools he had to work with.
May he carry on winning until the end of the season and prove all his naysayers wrong….
Sam P