It would seem that the new Arsenal hierarchy were preparing for Arsene Wenger’s departure by bringing in ex-Arsenal players into the coaching team. Per Mertesacker was invited last summer to take over the Youth setup and Jens lehmann was employed as a first team coach. Now we hear that Freddie Lunjberg is also coming, and now Robert Pires is also keen to rejoin the club as well.
“If I join Unai Emery’s staff, I think it should be good for me, and I hope it should be good for Unai Emery,” Pires said. “I could be like a bridge between him and the players. Because I know the players. For two years I have trained with the guys. So all of them, they respect me. And I respect the players, I was an ex-player. So the relationship between the players and me is good. That’s why I think I can help Unai Emery.”
“I’m very happy for Freddie because he’s back with Arsenal,” Pires said. “For the legacy, of course, it’s very important for the club to keep ex-Arsenal players. That’s why they chose Freddie, Jens Lehmann and Per Mertesacker.
“And for me, for example, if I can work with Unai Emery and the staff I would be very happy. We know the club. This is a new adventure for the club. Because for such a long time it was Arsene Wenger. To work with Arsene Wenger was amazing, but now it’s finished. So we need a new start. And if we can mix the new staff with ex-players I think it should be good.”
It certainly sounds like Pires wants to rejoin his old mates, but should Emery be bringing in his new team to change the club completely or should we have ex-players like Pires around as a bridge between the Wenger years and the new setup?
Darren N
That would be a good idea, because Pires speaks Spanish and he must be respected by the current players, due to his age, experience and he was a part of the Invicibles
It would be even better if Arsenal can snatch Arteta to be Emery’s assistant manager, because he knows Arsenal’s problems under Wenger, he knows the current players very well, must have learned a few things from Guardiola and he can also be the plan B in case Emery fails
I watched him how he played against Real legends so he is still great pro who didn’t develop a belly like some of players when they finish their carriers.
I dnt know how good he is as a coach but I would keep him at the club for sure.
Pires Forever!
…although Emery should pick people arround him, not Arsenal Board.
I wouldn’t dream of offering Emery advice on coaches. In general I like the idea of continuity by using ex- great players of ours around the place. I have no idea of Pires’ coaching credentials and think Emery will appoint who he wants. If that includes Bobby, then all well and good. If not, then all well and good too. Unlike when Wenger was manager, I do NOT now believe I can and would do better than the man in charge. Had I been in charge at any time since 2007, I would FOR CERTAIN have imported proper defenders, a quality CDM and someone who could and WOULD coach them how to defend, which Wenger refused to do, since he never valued defence. And this was why he was sacked..
Let it go Jon. He’s gone. Relax!!!!
Jon, please move on it’s getting really boring.
Jon,
It really is time to practice what you preach you know!
Everyone who visits this site on a regular basis, knows your views of the previous manager.
You mentioned Herbert Chapman recently replying to someone as an example of why we should move on, so just do it!
Your in danger of becoming the exact model of what you accused our ex manager of, boring and out of touch with the present.
Arsenal fans will welcome Robert Pires as an Arsenal legend on fis own capacity and with no link tp Arsene Wenger last fifteen years of miserable failure and with no link tp Wenger’s tactics with no plan b and very poor defending. Wenger’s era is over and Arsenal nee chang badly to get to winning ways . We strogly believe that Emery is a genuine Winning manager , and his just few days at Arsenal he is working very hard to resolve the contract issues with players like Ramsey and Wilshere and he has alreadt started to solve Arsenal back line problems . We are asking the Arsenal board and shareholders to make the neceassy transfer budget available so he can rebuild Arsenal squad with some credible players and not put much pressure on him by giving him only £60 million for signing new players , because one world class player will cost more than that and Arsenal is the third richest club in UK.
Always liked Pires but not sure we need anymore links to Wenger. If he’s employed it should on his ability, nothing else.
Off topic but anyone watching the game tonight? To be honest I’m not that interested in watching England but Joel Campbell is playing and it will be interesting to see how he’s progressed.
I’m with you on that GB… not that fussed about watching England. Seems like ages since we last saw Campbell!
Well that was disappointing. Joel didn’t shoe much but Costa Rica were generally poor.
Rashford has got magic feet though. How he played that one two with himself was amazing.
I saw 20 minutes.. that was more than enough! It was a hell of a goal from Rashford though. Welbz always plays well for England!
Pires is a true legend but he should not be part of the set up now. He was too tight with Wenger and one of his chief fanboys and if truth be told he would still want Wenger in charge now. Sorry mate, your job if you want it should be part of the matchday where he would be excellent at talking to the punters about Wenger’s (and probably Arsenal’s) long gone glory days…
I think Emery should appointment an ex Arsenal player or retain one of the backroom staff for continuity and advice. Let him avoid David Moyes experience when he ignored SAF advice to leave his backroom staff in place for at least a year to help him settle. We all know how that went.
No Wenger connections. No more AW bad influences
While Robert Pires will always be an Arsenal Legend this does not automatically give him the right to expect to be placed on the Coaching Staff.The new Manager will have his own back room staff with him and if Pires is to be offered anything it would be with the Youth teams set-up.This I get but never First Yeam until he has proven his capabilities.Loved him as a player and he obviously still loves the Club but we need proven Coaches immediately not novices still cutting their teeth.