There is no limit to what Arsenal can achieve with Emery’s energy and our new support network

Since last summer Ivan Gazidis has been busy preparing the new management setup in preparation for taking Arsenal forward when Arsene Wenger decided to call it a day, and I must admit that I think most of us Gooners are very pleased with his efforts, especially with Unai Emery being the cherry on the cake.

now that the final piece of the jigsaw is in place, Gazidis is certain that Arsenal and the players can only improve from here onwards. “All of our players will respond to the new energy that Unai brings.” Ivan said. “They will have somebody under whom they can improve their individual games and their collective game. If they embrace those challenges then the players we have today can be more successful in the future. I don’t think anybody believes that sixth place is a place that a club the stature of Arsenal should be in. We need to look to improve that. How big a rebuilding job that is, is a discussion that we’ve started with Unai and a discussion that will continue. The ambition is to be in a position to be a candidate to win the biggest trophies in England and the biggest trophies across Europe. We’ve got to understand that that’s not just going to be done in one leap. It’s the result of focus, hard work, discipline, energy, commitment, will to win. That’s what we need to do.

“The players will embrace it and I strongly believe the energy Unai can bring with his qualities, they will embrace that as well. The challenge we have is very big. I’ve always said it’s the biggest challenge this club will face: to transition from one of the giants of the game in Arsène Wenger – and I maintain that. This is not an easy process. We’ve spent a lot of time building to this moment. It is not just about the last month or six weeks of the process around identifying recruiting Unai. It’s really been an ongoing process for a couple of years, building up the capabilities of the club: from the facilities to what we do with strength and conditioning, fitness, medical, psychology, analytics, scouting – all of these support services.

“This year, with the addition of Sven Mislintat as head of recruitment and Raul Sanllehi as head of football relations, we are working in a different way than we’ve worked in the past. It’s going to be a team effort to support Unai’s vision, supporting his energy finding ways we can help him to be successful.”

We certainly do have a top management team in place, and now we just need to see if the players can respond in the same way to up their game under the new coach. If they don’t I have a feeling that they will not be treated with the patience that Wenger gave them.

I am actually starting to feel very positive about next season for a change!

Admin

Just Arsenal have made the Top Ten UK Football Blogs rankings for the first time!

46 Comments

  1. All looks ok except the low budget of 50 million for the summer. To challenge for PL , this team needs 200 million , and to get to 4 needs 100 million at least,
    I do not think we will get back to to 4 with this small budget, I can think of few offensive players like Ozil will improve under Unai
    I do not see, the defense improving a lot as the talent is missing, Not sure how the Likes of Mustafi and Xhaka Improves

    1. How did you get to that figure sunny, its seems everyone is of the opinion that we need to spend at least 200 million to compete, i beg to differ yes we need some new signings but just remember new players sometimes need time to settle in, sometimes its better to work with your current players to try and eliminate the mistakes they make at key moments in the game, if we can improve our away form next season we are halfway there, then we need to get our team to defend better as a unit, and stop trying to pass the ball in the back of the net, take shots from outside the box also, play some long balls so now and then, mix it up. i for one think we will compete next year if we work on our mistakes and bring in a couple of players like a goalkeeper and maybe a proper defensive midfielder.

      1. You nailed it, get a good keeper, a tough tackling DM and a disciplined CB and we are good to go

    2. There is one thing about the last year or so of the Arsenal situation. It is something in which all football fans, of all football clubs, should be delighted. It is that, even in this age of the multi-billionaire owners, FANS STILL HAVE POWER. The Arsenal board was only motivated to make the sad but inevitable decision to release Wenger when the fans demonstrated their disatisfaction with the club’s situation. I believe two forces were at work. Firstly, that disssatisfaction would eventually be reflected in financial terms. Merchandising would go down from existing fans and that potential new fans and sponsors would think twice about associating themselves with a club with a sour image. That would lead to a drop in share price – possibly the only financial figure in which Kroenke is interested. Secondly, but linked, was the poisonous atmosphere at matches. Inevitably it must have affected the players. It obviously affected the fans. I have never before seen Arsenal fans actually fighting each other (and I have watched Arsenal for 62 years). I think one of the attractions of owning a club like Arsenal – a very big club, world famous, sixth richest in the world – is the prestige and self preening opportunities it affords. Not much to self preen about when attendances are down, fans at each other’s throats, players dispirited and underachieving etc. etc. We face a difficult recovery period but we have done that before and we will do so again. All football fans, so many of whom feel disconnected and powerless in regard to their particular team, should thank Arsenal fans. FANS STILL HAVE POWER.

      1. Very good observation

        You have been watching Arsenal for 62 years, so how old are you now? You must be older than the legendary @jon fox?

      2. Good post Tdg. The only bit I take issue with is the impact of a poisonous atmosphere at the Emirates. It makes sense but isn’t supported by the facts. There was nothing wrong with our home form and our away fans are legends.

      3. The thorough setting out of the fan power we used, made me know, well before it happened that the club would sack Wenger. THE WHOLE RESIGNATION SUGGESTION CAN BE DISCOUNTED. He was sacked and all with any brains well realise that . Your post is a top one, well constructed, full of realism and with a spot on conclusion. I only wish that all fans, everywhere , fully used the power we have. That way , we would not be so badly abused and treated by footballs administrators, who always put commercail interests way above fan interests. We could change this but only if we act together, as your post shows.

    3. I have an intriguing question that is bothering me, if a manager brings his support staff like assistant coach, Video analyst, fitness coach etc. Who is going to pay them? Is their wage included in the package of the manager? or is it a separate entity paid by the club?

        1. Might be strange… But what if i employ 10 of my family members in my support staff and give them some role or the other and say i need this support staff or else i cant work?

        2. I had this question onlu because it seems that Unai has a seperate team for Video analysis. So i was wondering if he is given 6mil a year and all his combined support staff another 6 mil a year then i wonder if board felt losing wenger is costing more money

    4. The 50m transfer fund isn’t as direct as it looks say buying a 50m player for it but rather it can be spent in transfer fees, say 1 50m player with fees spread over a 5yr contract – implying 10m a year. This implies the 50m can get you 5 players of 50m @ spread over a 5 year contract. Not that bad

  2. Unpopular opinion here but I believe we should set up with a 4-3-3 next season with mkhi and ozil with a new more mobile CDM kind of like what city does with Kevin de bruyne and silva where de bruyne is the box to box playmaker – that would be mkhi for us because he has that level of stamina. We need lots of pace on the wings and inverted wingers too who can cross with their weak foot if needed. Pace is what we have been lacking since we sold theo and Sanchez and mkhi is quick but he isn’t lightning quick and he tends to occupy the same spaces as Ozil in the middle thus make our attack lack with and making our play predictable and easy to stop. Pace is what has made City’s attack so fearful this season and we need lightning fast wingers so we can press properly and hit teams with lightning-fast counters. I’d personally take Joaquin Correa from Sevilla, Guedes or Pavon on the left and Malcom/Under/Bailey on the right. We also need cover for both LB and RB and new Goalkeepers of course.

    1. I like your idea with Joaquin Correa/ Guedes/ Pavon on the left and Malcom/ Under/ Bailey on the right. But we already have players that can play in the left wing, such as Mkhitaryan (like your suggestion, he could be an CAM like Bruyne/ Silva), Aubameyang, Lacazette, Welbeck and Nelson

      I think Arsenal would have limited budget for the next season. Apart from your suggestions for the right winger, there is also Janujaz and Draxler

      1. I literally just said mkhi should play cam with ozil like city has de bruyne and silva

    2. watch Correa very well and u will know he is just a lower version of Ozil, he is not the lightning type of player u described, Fekhir will be better.

      1. Correa is lightning quick. I watch la liga every week and Fekir is not a winger – he’s a CAM.

  3. Riyadh Mahrez , need him. Brilliant dribbler, can curl it into the top corner from the edge of the box.
    That too , with a low possession, defensive team.

    1. Yes, Mahrez could be a good addition, because he has a strong left foot, tricky and has been playing well as a right winger in a low possession/ defensive team. We are lacking left-footed right winger

      My only concern is his low work rate, because we already have similar player in the field, Ozail

  4. First emery will need this year to judge the whole squad inc… the the reserve team and youth and loan players ..He will get rid of the bad wood. You don’t need loads of cash ‘, you need good back room staff and everyone working hard to achieve emry’s way of teaching once you get a good team first team winging they can be replaced buy youth.Any way I cant believe that AFC will only give him 50 million plus the sale of some players we don’t want we also must back the team and manager can’t wait for the season to start…WE ARE THE ARSENAL ??

  5. I don’t think expectations for next season should be too high. Even Klopp and Guardiola needed at least one season to get to grip with the PL and Van Gaal never did. Just as foreign players need time to get used to the PL so do foreign coaches.

    The fact that his English is so limited will also hamper his ability to transmit his energy. Emery has the tools to be successful at Arsenal but it would be naive of fans to think or expect major improvements in his first year.

    Emery also inherits a squad which is arguably average. I am looking for improvement in an effort by our players since they stopped putting in an effort for Wenger and I am looking for greater defensive discipline but those don’t necessarily put us back in the top 4. Burnley put in greater efforts and was defensively more disciplined than we were but they finished a few points behind us.

    Part of supporting Emery is to not put unrealistic expectations on him. Even if he were given the 200million budget needed to even remotely catch up with the big teams it would take at least one season to integrate the new players and to allow for the whole squad to understand his methods and what he wants from them. Not to speak of the time he will need to adjust his methods to what works in the PL and what does not.

    I am very excited about seeing what change Emery can bring but in his first season, I am looking more for change in performance on the pitch than for change in results.

    1. I wouldn’t worry too much about his limited English. With his dedication, I am sure he is already working hard to improve it.

  6. The team has the talent to win the PL as is. It’s just a matter of organization and commitment to winning and I believe this team can get back in the CL places and win cups next season. Good things are coming! COYG!!

  7. Of course there is a limit!
    That limit is the owner and his money.
    Just the same scenario as it always has been since Kroenke took control.
    The only club that doesn’t apply to is Man. City who run away with the league because they had limitless amounts of money!!!!!!!!

  8. Stephan Larose,
    Sorry but cups just aren’t good enough.
    We won three in the last five years and three CL qualifications in the same period.
    Not deemed acceptable as they weren’t top trophies.
    We have given our new manager a two year contract, so let’s see what he has achieved by then.
    No pressure from the fans, let’s just give the man a chance.
    Really looking forward to this new era.

  9. Wenger is a natural in front of the cameras;he’d have you hanging off his every word as he discusses anything from his great invincibles side to brexit.First impressions aren’t everything, of course, but Emery doesn’t strike you being as charismatic. In fairness, not many stand up to Wenger in terms of charm.

  10. Mikel Arteta was the leading contender before fears crept in over the Spaniards lack of managerial experience. Then Emery became the panic choice

        1. Counsel-Once again you are embarrassing yourself.Honestly who gives a flying F***at how Charismatic Emery is in front of the cameras compared to Wenger.So Wenger was a “Natural”in front of the cameras and not many others have his “Charm”.
          It’s a pity he didn’t have the Quality his job demanded like COACHING.If he did have we wouldn’t be in this position we are in and he wouldn’t have been SACKED.FFS when are fools like YOU going to realise that Wenger FAILED in his job?Stop trying to defend the indefensible and start hoping Emery does a far far better job of managing Arsenal Football Club than Wenger did in the last decade

          1. ?People soon forget how Arsene Wenger was when he first became Arsenal manager in 1996 and the team he inherited. He was not the relatively polished performer he became.
            Emery loses nothing in comparison.

  11. Emery is a great choice. Arteta wouldve been interesting, but we are too big a club to take that much of a risk. Its great to see some optimism and excitement back at the club, but i dont think we should set our expectations too high. If the 50 Mill rumoured budget is correct, it will make a very dificult task of qualifying for the champions league even more difficult. Most of the teams above us have successful managers and a much larger transfer fund. Will be interesting to see if Spuds decline given the huge new stadium debt and Chelsea too when they start to build theirs.

  12. I strongly believe we’ll challenge for top 4 next season, but ain’t expecting miracles…

    Not even the trio of Pep, Klopp and Mou will guarantee immediate success…
    There’s a whole lot to sort out, and that could take some time – a season or more.
    I’ll plead with fellow gunners not to come up with unnecessary rants, whines and naggings if things go a bit gloomy.
    I know we (gunners) could have called for Pep’s head in his first (trophyless) season at City, pointing at how he couldn’t win UCL with start-studded Bayern (which some so-called fans have begun saying or looking forward to saying if their dirty wishes come knocking).
    While we’re somehow deemed “faithful supporters”, we’re the most nagging of fans I’ve known.

    I’m very optimistic and positive about this new dawn, and will only plead with you to
    expect a turn around in attitude and performance, but NOT MIRACLES, most especially next season.
    Miracles here refer to wining BPL, UEL, beating all big boys, etc.
    COYG!!

  13. I doubt this argument of 50 million is true, however i doubt that we actually need to overall the squad, get some intensity in this team and it will look brand new. Our players looked lazy and one pace through-out the last season, who can not manage the training should be asked to leave, high intensity training also shows you the players who regularly breaks down.

    I have said it before we have to move from , HOTEL RESORT ARSENAL to BOOT CAMP ARSENAL, in order to get back to the top, i do not think it will be an easy process to get there, it takes dedication and hard work. I do not care how much a player cost or is payed, he should not be played if he his not doing the work for the team.

    Get to work UNAI EMERY

    1. Ivan Gazidis made no mention of the £50 million transfer budget in his interview. In response to the question asked, he told the media to check the statement of accounts regarding available funds.

  14. Arsene Wenger lacked the financial support obviously, and it hampered our progress. I hope the board grants the 40% increase in transfer capital to Emery

Comments are closed

Top Blog Sponsors