Arsenal head coach Unai Emery explains his ethos sure to excite fans: My idea is to be a ‘protagonist’ with possession and high tempo pressing
New Arsenal manager Unai Emery (right) with chief executive Ivan Gazidis on the pitch after a press conference at the Emirates Stadium, London. - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
New Arsenal head coach Unai Emery has been explaining his football philosophy to supporters of the North London giants – and it’s good news.
Arsenal's Ivan Gazidis and new head coach Unai Emery (left) (pic: Mark Bryans/PA) - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
The 46-year-old Basque had been unveiled at the Emirates on Wednesday after impressing chief executive Ivan Gazidis by standing out in an original long-list of eight candidates.
But during an exhaustive search, led by Gazidis, for a successor to previous manager Arsene Wenger, the former Valenicia boss shone through.
Speaking at the announcement of the new man, the influential Gazidis explained the club interviewed the eight men in the frame, before whittling the list down to three.
Gazidis then plumped unanimously for the man who lifted three Europa League titles in a row while coach at Sevilla as well as claiming the Ligue 1 championship, two French Cups and two French League Cups, during his 24 months in charge of the Parisian moneybags.
Unai Emery, the former Paris Saint-Germain manager has joined Arsenal as head coach. PA - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
Showing the passion and energy which so impressed Gazidis, as well as the two others who led the Europe-wide search for Wenger’s successor – head of football relations, Raul Sanllehi, and head of recruitment, Sven Mislintat – Emery explained: “My idea is to be a ‘protagonist’ all the match.
“Arsenal play possession football and throughout my career I’ve always been a coach who wants possession.
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“There is something I would like to add to my philosophy, that I like to win the ball back as quickly as possible.
“So it’s about two things: possession and pressing. What I want is for Arsenal to transmit energy and emotion to the fans.
“This stadium has everything we need to get feedback from the fans,” adding: “I’m very demanding of myself. I’m passionate and I really want to transmit that to the people around me – that we can, and must, improve in the future.”
