One of the main reasons that Arsenal have gone downhill in the last two seasons is because Arsene Wenger lost his ability to get the players to raise their game, as was clear by the fact that we lost seven away League games in a row, so Unai Emery will have to fill that void and get the squad to want to start winning again.
He has certainly managed to do that at his previous clubs. Even ten years ago, he famously got lowly Almeria into La Liga for the first time, and motivated his team of unknowns to reach 8th place in their very first season in the top flight. If he can get the Arsenal players to respond like that there is no limit to where we could end up.
Likewise at Seville he gave his players so much confidence he led them to an unprecedented three Europa League trophies in a row, and one of his players at that time was Marco Andreolli, who gave us all an insight into his management techniques. “English football is unique and Emery will have to quickly understand this new reality,” the Italian centre-back said. “But he has all the skills necessary to succeed in the Premier League. Tactical awareness, motivational ability, extraordinary staff and a winning mentality. Arsenal have made a good choice.”
“Arsenal have appointed a winner,” he said. “[Emery] is an extraordinary motivator. His speciality is preparing for matches, speaking at great length to his players.
“Emery’s backroom staff was of the highest quality. His coaches are brilliantly prepared, studying for every big game. Unai and his staff are on top of every little detail. They don’t leave anything to chance.”
“One of his great strengths is his relationship with the players,”
“Unai talks with you a lot as an individual and he and his staff can really make a team come together on the pitch.
“I had a bad injury that seriously affected my season at Sevilla but Emery was always available to me and listened to me, and there was one particular moment when we played in the Europa League final [against Liverpool] that made me really emotional.
“He arranged to have a motivational video shown in the dressing room before the game, which looked back over the entire season at Sevilla. Among the clips he had chosen was one of my injury, and one of me working on my recuperation. It was a way of making me feel part of the team, and it showed me that Emery knows how to look after everyone.”
That is certainly a glowing reference from one of his ex-players, and it shows that Emery gets his players to work as a team and gives them belief in themselves and their abilities to be successful, which is something that this Arsenal squad has been lacking for some time. It certainly gives me hope for the coming seasons.
Onwards and Upwards!
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