Unai Emery has won trophies, but how can he mold this Arsenal team into a successful group?
When Arsenal announced the departure of long-term manager Arsene Wenger in April, fans and pundits spent months weighing up the potential options for replacements. The consensus went from Carlo Ancelotti to Massimiliano Allegri, to Mikel Arteta.
Each had a whirlwind of pros and cons floating all over social media. Now, we know the name of the man that will take the club forward.
Former PSG and Sevilla manager Unai Emery was officially announced as Arsene Wenger’s successor on Wednesday, and the decision has been greeted with mixed reviews.
Although Unai Emery isn’t the elite managerial name that some fans wanted, he checks many of the boxes that Arsenal needed to be checked, and he has the ability to move the club forward.
Emery has key player decisions to make
One of Emery’s most difficult challenges as Arsenal manager will likely have to be approached within the next month. Star midfielder Aaron Ramsey is currently heading into the final year of his contract, and the Gunners know all too well about the catastrophic ending this saga might have.
The club will either re-sign Ramsey this summer or sell him for profit. As a key player and someone who Emery is rumored to be building the team around, it is crucial for Arsenal’s short-term future that Ramsey stays in red & white.
Along with keeping crucial players, Emery must also find a way to improve Arsenal’s stagnating starters. We have seen the likes of Shkodran Mustafi and Alex Iwobi struggle to improve under Wenger, and Emery must approach them in a different manner from his predecessor.
He is reportedly very interested in studying film with his players, and perhaps this is a method in which some of Arsenal’s players can improve their game. It is certainly a big change from Wenger’s reportedly lenient methods. This leniency must end with Emery.
So @UnaiEmery_, what did you make of the training ground?#WelcomeUnai pic.twitter.com/OvRd2FJUyp
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 24, 2018
He has to do everything within his abilities to improve these players, but if they simply do not do so, he must take action and be ruthless with them and change their minutes on the pitch.
Defending has also been a massive issue for Arsenal in recent seasons and this is another area that Unai Emery has to pay attention to. Drilling in defensive movements and positioning will be crucial to any improvements for Arsenal at the back.
In other words, they can’t just bring in great defenders and let them do their work. Coaching has to play a part.