Unai Emery
It looks like Arsenal like rhymes in their managers’ names. Last, it was Arsene Wenger whose first name nearly could be mistaken for the club’s name. Many fellows in the past had asked: “Is Arsene the owner of Arsenal? Today, it is Unai Emery that is appointed the new manager after the former left earlier this month after 22 years in the saddle. Emery for Emirates!
However, the Spaniard brings to the table at Arsenal plenty of winning experience having won the Europa League back to back thrice at Sevilla before moving to France to help PSG dominate the domestic league. The only blip for him at the French side was his inability to win the Champions League, or even reach the semifinals, despite the array of stars at his disposal. Neymar Junior joined last summer in what seemed to be the last puzzle of the jigsaw but the Brazilian failed to move the French champions beyond the round of 16. It was even scandalous penultimate season after beating Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of the round of 16, everybody wrote the Spanish giants off for the return leg but they rose from the dead and won 6-1 to advance 6-5 on aggregate.
In the meantime, Arsenal will pose a different challenge to the new coach. Can he adapt to the fast pace of the Premier League? His compatriot Pep Guardiola suffered that shock in his first season in charge at Manchester City but overcame and became imperious in his second season. He won the league with a whopping 19 points above second placed United, earning 100 points and 32 wins in 38 matches.
Emery is a coach many pundits believe will restore discipline in the team that was missing in the latter stay of Wenger. Wenger lost the fire and subsequently transferred it to the players, who became lack luster in some matches. Therefore, they lost matches they had no business losing or losing scandalously.
To compete with other big teams after missing out of the Champions League in the second consecutive season, Arsenal will also need to strengthen their squad. First, Petr Cech can no longer be trusted as the first choice, the back line needs total overhaul and a solid defensive midfielder. The attack as constituted at present is okay.
Mourinho gets a taste of his medicine
Manchester United Manager, Jose Mourinho complained bitterly that Chelsea “ packed the bus” in their 1-0 win in the final of FA Cup decided at the Wembley Stadium over the weekend. Chelsea were the underdog before the match but did the needful to win the coveted trophy to leave Mourinho trophy less this season. He told the press after the match that his team played better. Rightly so, but Mourinho did the same to win trophies in the past so it was hypocritical for him to accuse Chelsea.
Follow me on twitter @precioussegun
