Unai Emery says 'we will create a new future for Arsenal' as Spaniard unveiled as Arsene Wenger's successor
Emery to be presented as head coach in 2pm press conference ...
... Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis to join Emery at Emirates
Unai Emery paid tribute to the legacy left by Arsene Wenger as he set out his vision for the "big challenge" after taking over as head coach at Arsenal.
Emery, 46, left Paris St Germain at the end of the season having won the domestic treble and will replace Wenger at the Emirates Stadium following the end of the Frenchman's 22-year reign.
Spaniard Emery - who emerged as the shock favourite earlier this week after it had seemed former Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta was in line to land the job - is set to fit into a new structure behind the scenes.
"We will create a new present and a new future for Arsenal. I want to say thank you Arsene Wenger for your legacy. For all the coaches in the world, he is a reference. We learned, I learned from him all the things in football," Emery said at a press conference, choosing to speak in English rather than via a translator.
"It's a big challenge for me, but I have worked also in other projects, big projects. For me, I am proud to be here and to work after Arsene Wenger."
Emery, who won three successive Europa League titles with Sevilla before moving to PSG in 2016, maintained he had his own plans about how to take Arsenal forward, the club having finished sixth in the Premier League last season.
Why Emery got the Arsenal job
"Our objective is to be among the best teams in Europe, to win titles and to be in the elite of European teams. I also want the team to make the fans proud. I know they are already and I want them to be even more so," he said.
On the future of midfielder Jack Wilshere, whose current contract is set to run out, Emery added: "I want today to speak about the team globally, not individually about the players today.
"This team is a big team, great players, we think we need to change little things."
Chief executive Ivan Gazidis explained Emery was the stand-out candidate on an eight-man shortlist for the Arsenal job.
"We had some clear criteria we were looking for," said Gazidis.
"We wanted progressive, entertaining football, personality to fit Arsenal values and a reputation for developing players and also, through cultural demands, demanding more from them.
"His teams improve over time. We also felt for some time that he is a superb fit with the criteria I laid out. He came in extraordinarily well-prepared with a detailed knowledge of Arsenal Football Club.
Unai Emery: what style can Arsenal expect from their new manager?
"He had an analysis to share with us, not just his ways of working, his ways of coaching, the team of people that he works with, but he had an analysis of all of our individual players - their qualities and how he believes he can help them develop individually and collectively - and also an in-depth analysis of our off-the-field team and how they can contribute.
"The thing that distinguished Unai was the chemistry between us. He has an energy, a competitive energy, and will to win that made us think this was a perfect fit for Arsenal."
The club are yet to confirm if Emery will bring in any of his own backroom staff, although Juan Carlos Carcedo, Pablo Villanueva, Julen Masach and Victor Manas have all reportedly been lined up for roles.
When asked how big a rebuilding job it is for Emery, chief executive Gazidis said: "I think all of our players will respond to the new energy that Unai brings. I think they will have somebody under whom they can improve their individual game and our collective game.
"I don't think anybody believes that sixth place is a place that a club of the stature of Arsenal should be. We need to look to improve that."
How does he rate Mesut Ozil?
“He’s one of the biggest talents at Arsenal and I want talented players here I want to spend time with him, and all the players. I want to speak with them about how inspired and excited I am to be here and I want the players to feel that as well. This is a wonderful project and we all need to give 100%.”
Taking on Guardiola and Mourinho...
“In terms of my past experience, it makes me feel stronger and also allows me to have a guide to my future trajectory. I'm very excited to be here, against top coaches and top teams, and have to say the Premier League now it right at the top.
“I speak with a lot of coaches, those are private conversations, but now that I’m here all information is welcome.”
Can Arsenal win the Champions League?
“All titles are important for us. We can, and want to be, candidates for them. I don’t promise today we will win, but I can promise you we will work hard, will work together, will work with emotion, demanding to find all the objectives.”
Why Arsenal?
“I had three fantastic meetings in terms of who was at those meetings. First I met with Ivan, Raul and Sven, they analysed me as a person and a coach, and thought I could be an option for this team. I have to say after a three-hour meeting there was fantastic chemistry between us. That came simply from the fact it was Arsenal, a wonderful history, and I hoped there could be a new future for the club. The second meeting was with the owners, the heart of the club, they transmitted what the fans wanted and I felt a positive energy. My third meeting was in Atlanta and again I had a fantastic feeling. Everything has been very positive in terms of the challenge, which makes me very proud and is a great opportunity to grow.
“Success would be developing, and that’s about battling for every title. It’s in Arsenal’s history and it’s in my history as well. We want to be among the best teams in Europe. I want the team to make the fans proud of the side. I know they are already but I want to make them even more so.”
What is his style of management?
“In my career I am very demanding for all, demanding of the players also. My idea is to be a protagonist for all of the match. We play against teams with this personality, and I think the history here shows they love playing with possession of the ball. I like this, and when you don’t have possession of the ball I want a squad very, very intense in pressing. It’s two things that are very important for me. Being a protagonist, possession of the ball, and pressing.”
The interview process...
“In all the meetings with the people – Ivan, Raul, Sven – the connection was very important. We spoke about all they want and I want to work together, on this club, this responsibility. To know my ambition, my passion. It is a big responsibility but I think this feeling is very important and my experiences with big clubs are important. All the conversations are very good.”
Does he have any transfer targets?
“I believe in the players we have here. We can grow with these players and the objective is to work hard with these talented players, to work to be a candidate for all the titles in the future. Then it’s very important for the club, after two years outside the Champions League, to work towards this, to arrive and be the best team in the Premier League and also the world.”
The future of Jack Wilshere...
“I don’t want to speak about any of the players today. We think we need to change little things. Today I want to work, want to speak globally for the squad.”
'¿Habla usted inglés?'
It appears he does. Despite a number of reports claiming the 46-year-old Basque does not speak English, the new Arsenal head coach has just delivered his first press conference as an employee of the north London club. In English.
“Thank you Ivan, Raul and Sven. The first meeting with Arsenal personnel was with people who, after three hours, I had a very good feeling that we will work together and create a new present and future for Arsenal,” he said.
“My English is not the very best now and I want to make an effort to speak with you to explain my ambition. I am very excited for this opportunity at a big club, a great city and stadium.
“In my career every year I grow up with a new challenge. For me the challenge is a dream come true.
“Now? To know you. And all the conversations with Ivan and people who work here, to give me all the information about the club. I know all the players, I think they are very important and I want to speak individually with them face to face.”
Ivan Gazidis on Arsenal's new appointment ...
Apologies if you were watching our live video and were, like us, a little flummoxed by the Spanish feed. Here's what was said by Arsenal chief executive Gazidis:
“I’m really delighted and excited to announce the new head coach. I know that came as a bit of a surprise, perhaps there were one or two rewrites necessary. But those who know won’t speak and those who speak won’t know. I’ll give you a little insight into the process. We formed a three-person committee of me, Sven Mislintat and Raul Sanllehi. We had some clear criteria: aggressive, entertaining football; personality that fitted with Arsenal’s values; also a record of developing players through detailed tactical instruction and also cultural demand, pushing players.
“We looked through and analysed on the basis that every coach in the world would be interested in this position. We don’t believe any position in world football is more attractive. We created an eight-person longlist. All of them were interested and took part in extensive, in-person interviews. None of them at any stage withdrew their interest. So we were in a fortunate position to make our first choice, and that’s what we did. Our first interviewee was conducted on 25th April, our last was conducted on 15th May and we interviewed Unai on 10th May. We made our unanimous recommendation to the board on 18th may, accompanied by a 100-page dossier. We then met with London members of our board on Monday this week. Unai and Raul and I flew to Atlanta and met Josh and Stan Kroenke and flew back on the red-eye last night.
“So why Unai Emery? I’ve followed Unai’s career very closely and he’s always been on my radar screen. He’s got a fantastic record wherever he’s gone and his team’s improve over time. He’s a superb fit with the criteria I laid out. But it’s important to move this beyond the paper exercise and having taken third-person references it was very important to move to personal meetings. Unai was incredibly impressive, he came in extraordinary well prepared, he had an analysis of all of our individual players, their qualities and how he believes he can help them develop individually and collectively, and also detailed analysis of our off-field team.
“But this wasn’t a purely technical exercise. What also distinguished Unai was the chemistry between us and feeling for football in the room. His detail, hard work, love for football and will to win made us think this fit was exactly right.”
'Past success suggests Arsenal could suit Emery'
Sam Wallace, our chief football writer, believes Unai Emery's entrance into the English game will be unforgettable, one way or another. Read what Sam has to say about Arsenal's new Basque head coach ...
'Emery could have very good success at Arsenal'
Claudio Ranieri, the former Leicester City and Chelsea manager, has backed the new Arsenal head coach Unai Emery to succeed once he takes over the reins at the Emirates Stadium.
“He’s a good man, a good coach,” Ranieri told Sky Sports this morning. “He managed a lot in Spain and had a very good season with PSG but in Paris you have to win the Champions League – that is the target there.
“Unai is a very strong man, a good manager and I think he could have very good success there. I think they need three or four years to stay calm then restart. But football is fantastic; you never know what could happen.”
Guardiola: Emery is a top manager
Following the breaking news that Unai Emery will become the new Arsenal head coach, or friends at Sky Sports News have been busying themselves canvassing the opinions of whoever they can get hold of on the appointment.
Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager, reckons Ivan Gazidis et al have landed themselves a good on in the 46-year-old Basque.
"[Emery is a] top manager. His career speaks for itself," Guardiola said a short while ago.
"He did it perfectly in Spain with many teams – Valencia, Sevilla – and he did really well in France. So, welcome to England. Another good manager is coming here."
How did Emery land the big Arsenal job?
Unai Emery, according to our own Matt Law, was not on Arsenal's original shortlist of potential new managers or head coaches:
Emery did not feature on Arsenal’s original shortlist of potential successors to Arsene Wenger before eventually landing the job ahead of Mikel Arteta.
But Telegraph Sport understands first contact between the two parties was only made 10 days ago – after most of the interviews had already taken place.
The likes of Arteta, Patrick Vieira and Max Allegri were all first sounded out over the Arsenal post over a fortnight ago after Arsenal had drawn up their original shortlist.
Emery was only put on to the club’s radar by an agent once a number of candidates were waiting to hear back about their own interviews or had pulled out of the race themselves. Read the full story here ...
Emery to be unveiled as new head coach later today
Unai Emery, the new Arsenal head coach, will be unveiled unveiled at a press conference at the Emirates Stadium later this afternoon.
Emery's arrival in north London follows the appointments of Raul Sanllehi as head of football relations and Sven Mislintat as head of recruitment over the past year.
Interestingly, Emery's job title of head coach would suggest the club are keen to move away from the model formed under Arsene Wenger, with the Spaniard expected to work closely with Sanllehi and Mislintat as the Basque plots to bring the good times back to the club.
The Arsenal statement in full ...
Unai Emery is to become our new head coach. He joins the club after completing a two-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain, where he recently landed the treble of Ligue 1, Coupe de France and the Coupe de la Ligue.
Unai, 46, previously spent three seasons with Sevilla, leading them to an unprecedented three consecutive Europa League titles, establishing the club as a major force in the Spanish league.
Announcing the appointment, chief executive Ivan Gazidis said: “Unai has an outstanding track record of success throughout his career, has developed some of the best young talent in Europe and plays an exciting, progressive style of football that fits Arsenal perfectly. His hard-working and passionate approach and his sense of values on and off the pitch make him the ideal person to take us forward.
“We conducted a confidential, wide-ranging and rigorous search involving extensive background references, data and video analysis, and personal meetings with all the candidates we shortlisted. All were interested in the position and we were unanimous in our choice of Unai to drive the next chapter of our history.”
What can Arsenal expect from new manager Unai Emery?
Majority owner Stan Kroenke said: “We’re delighted to welcome Unai to Arsenal. He’s a proven winner. We’re confident that he is the right person for the job and that he will work to deliver the triumphs our fans, staff and everyone who cares about Arsenal want.
“Several things stood out during his interview and the entire process; his football knowledge, energy, determination and love of the game. His familiarity with our club and our players, the Premier League and the game in Europe were all very impressive. He shares our vision to move forward, to build on the platform created by Arsène Wenger and help this club enjoy greater success.”
Unai Emery: what style can Arsenal expect from their new manager?
Unai said: “I am thrilled to be joining one of the great clubs in the game. Arsenal is known and loved throughout the world for its style of play, its commitment to young players, the fantastic stadium, the way the club is run. I’m very excited to be given the responsibility to start this important new chapter in Arsenal’s history. I have met Stan and Josh Kroenke and it’s clear they have great ambitions for the club and are committed to bringing future success. I’m excited about what we can do together and I look forward to giving everyone who loves Arsenal some special moments and memories.”
Unai started his coaching career at Lorca Deportiva in 2005 after playing mostly in the Spanish second division. He went on to coach Almeria, Valencia and Spartak Moscow before joining Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain.
The appointment is subject to the completion of regulatory processes.
Emery appointed as successor to Wenger
Arsenal have confirmed that Unai Emery will become the club's new head coach, subject to the completion of regulatory processes.
Emery, 46, left Paris St-Germain at the end of the season having won three trophies and will replace Arsene Wenger at the Emirates Stadium.
The Spaniard emerged as a surprise favourite earlier this week after it had seemed former Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta was in line to land the job.
Instead the role has gone to Emery, who won three successive Europa League titles with Sevilla before moving to PSG in 2016.
Wenger departed at the end of the season following a 22-year reign, with the club finishing sixth in the Premier League.
