Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are both looking forward to working with Unai Emery now that the Spaniard has been confirmed as Arsene Wenger’s successor.
The 46-year-old was appointed head coach at the Emirates yesterday and immediately set about describing his vision for the club which includes getting the Gunners back into the Champions League.
While our January signings might not have been expecting to work with a new coach so soon after signing, both seem impressed by Emery’s pedigree after stints at Valencia, Sevilla and most recently Paris Saint Germain.
“He’s a very good coach, it’s never easy in Paris, there’s a lot of pressure,” Aubameyang told RMC Sport.
“I know he did a great job in Seville and Paris, too. Of course it’s weird that the coach goes after 22 years,” he added.
“It’s life, we have to move forward, we’ll have to get everyone thinking to work hard to compete with the best.”
Meanwhile, Mkhitaryan, speaking to Armenian outlet Vivaro News, had the following to say:
“I hope he will bring new tactical ideas and spirit to Arsenal and I hope he will succeed.
“I haven’t talked to my teammates about him. I would like to meet him.”
Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan will not be heading to the World Cup this summer, so they’ll be amongst the first to hook up with Emery at pre-season training. The countdown to next season begins.
Opportunity for a male Sex Toy goes begging…
“Henrikh Mkhitaryan has introduced his brand name toy: MickiToy”
https://sport.news.am/eng/news/89324/mkhitaryan-introduces-mickitoy-photos.html
Glad we haven’t many at the World Cup, hopefully we can start strong next season, it would be good to still be in the race at Christmas (at least).
As with every season I’m hoping for the best, that we will be up there at the top of the table and be a team that nobody wants to play.
Things had gone stale under Wenger, a new energy will be good.
Excited to see what he does in midfield – especially as he’s talking about ‘very very intensive’ pressing.
I do not see Xhaka fitting in with that…
You’ve got to have someone sit back while the others press up front. Those up front can either win the ball or, if Xhaka becomes positionally aware enough, funnel the play toward him as a second line of defense.
If Busquets can press, Xhaka can press.
Harder to see Ozil fitting with that. Could he be sold?
No. He’s on sick leave. Jokes aside, I hope Emery can make full use of his talents
When I read Stillman’s column on Ramsey being sold I thought why not Ozil? He is just as expendable as Ramsey and his wages are way too high.
Ozil is a fantastic player, no doubt. But is he a part of the spine of the team? Does he define the way Arsenal play? or dictate a game? Not usually, and more often than not against opposition we *should* be beating anyway.
Xhaka won’t be the one pressing – that responsibility will lie with the likes of Ozil, Laca, Auba, Ramsey. Xhaka will likely sit deep as he has done.
Auba compares really well with Henry. Obviously his attributes on the field compare well. Speed, power, accuracy. Obvs Henry had more about him in terms of a catalyst on the pitch but auba could exceed him in terms of goals. Off the field he speaks in a similar statesman like manner. His penalty gesture to laca last season. His response to Wenger going and now this. He is taking the leadership of this group with a velvet glove. With him, Mkhitaryan, Ozil and Lacassette. We have the most potent attach In England . Let’s hope El boss can provide them… Read more »
Really been impressed by his attitude. He seems to have has some of Santi’s guileless zeal for the game.
Also him and Laca seem to have a genuine chemistry – I really think they can score a shitload of goals together.
Let’s not forget Pierre has awesome chemistry with Miki too, from their time playing in France. I’m feeling excited about the new season.
In Dortmund, Germany, you mean?
My bad! Yes Germany
Who is he going to pick as captain ? Not sure Kos will be in his plans. I think giving the armband to Auba to tell him : You are the best player, will be good.
My pick would be Monreal.
I’ll second this! Although I hope Kolasinac regains some of his early-season form again this year. I think if he improves his passing and confidence he can still be an incredible player.
Ramsey, maybe? If reports that Emery sees him as central to his plans for the team, then that would make sense. A bit out of left field, but he’s our player of the year and may be the only one of Wenger’s “British core” left if Wilshere goes this summer. Plus, he’s been with us since his youth team days.
So far I have the feeling Emery likes to please everybody. Ramsey was picked as player of the year by fans so he is going to build the team around him. He was impressed by Josh, Stan, Sanheli, Milinstat, Ivan. He forgot nobody. He even said he learned everything from Wenger like he was his assistant for ten years.
At PSG he was hesitant who between Cavani and Neymar should take PKs. He didn’t want to frustrate any of of the two. No pleasing everybody until you fix this team. Please be ruthless Mr Head Coach.
We have 50 million to spend. That buys one player. We need a keeper, two centerbacks and a midfielder.
The math doesn’t add up. It doesn’t matter who the manager is.
Did you ever think perhaps the new manager could raise funds by selling some deadwood and players he won’t be using. Plus it never helps to go into any negotiation or transfer boasting you have this many million to splurge. That gets you overinflated prices in a market that is already close to bursting. for reference look at ManU.
What is even the source for this 50m figure that we’re all taking as gospel? Since when do we trust the media on stuff like this? Every summer they’re giving it ‘war chest’ this and ‘transfer kitty’ that, and they’ve literally *never* been remotely accurate. What makes us all so confident that this 50m figure even has a basis in reality? The same goes for the whole Arteta thing, by the way. We’re all assuming they had a late change of heart when it could well have just been that they kept their cards close to their chest the whole… Read more »
absolutely. The 50m source is spurious at best. 50m is money available which also covers salaries. BUT even if assuming we have 50m to spend, it does not mean we only have 50m for transfers as the spend is ammortise over the duration of the players contract negotiated. The actual spending power will be higher. And we will also hopefully be clearing the decks of a host of peripheral players. This is an equally important activity this summer which will balance income coming in and add to our ability to spend. The likes of Perez, Asano, Campbell, Jenko even Akpom… Read more »
Sell Ozil for 50 million. Get dribs and drabs for Ospina and couple others. Buy Koulibaly, Leno and Seri for 110 million. I don’t think we need 2 centerbacks. I’d like to see Mustafi with some coaching and midfield defensive cover. I know I’m in the minority here. You could sell mustafi and buy Socratis if you don’t want to give him a chance under the new coach. And if we can’t get Koulibaly then get Soyncu. Cheaper. But I love Koulibaly. I love Ozil but if we’re looking for an intensive high press he’s just not the guy, and… Read more »
Bring back the downvotes for this guy who wants to sell ozil…
It might sound crazy but I see the reasoning behind selling Ozil. Much like how Liverpool sold Coutinho to help fund the Van Dijk transfer – i.e. strengthen a part of the pitch they were terrible in, similar to our position now.
Ozil and maybe Ramsey are really our only high-value assets.
I’m skeptical of Ozil fitting into a high pressing game, though apparently he played that way when he was starting out in Germany. Must admit I never really followed him too closely then, so I can’t say either way.
Yeah I would be OK with selling Ozil.
blogs please bring back the up/down votes! i’ve started to resort to reddit
He mentioned on Twitter they’re working on it.
Thanks
I cant see ozil fitting in this team, maybe emery will sell him to bolster the transfer budget, if anyone will buy him that is
Are you brain-damaged? Özil is most effective when playing in a counter attacking team. Why would Emey sell him?
I think he will try to work with most of the players on hand this season, reinforce with 2 or 3 more to keep them on their toes. BUT they will have to perform and show fight (particularly off the ball). Ozil and the rest of the team have done this before but they have never been able to sustain it. Effort would drop when they come out for second half etc. Emery won’t be as dotting as Wenger to his charges. If they don’t perform, they will be benched and likely out the next summer surplus to use. And… Read more »
Agreed – Özil will create heaps for our forwards on the counter attack.
Bingo!! Its when he has space he is lethal. With the right players around him, Ozil will destroy oppositions. His ability to pick a pass and with Aubu and Laca starting to slot in nicely, the future of Arsenals offense imho will be one of, if not the, best floating around the EPL next season.
even then he is not that much effective, and when we are not attacking, what does he do then, while the rest of the team are trying to get the ball back, good or great players play well if they are attacking or not, and if he don’t pull his socks up emery will sell him ( if he can )
Auba, Laca, Ramsey, Mhki, Wilshere – all not heading to the World Cup. We should start the season flying next year!
Let’s Just Win the Damn League Already. Would take 101points and Europe. Let the rest share the rest.
No reason why we couldn’t.
Unai has the benefit of much of the key squad not involved in the Wcup.
Conte won the title following a disastrous season for Chelsea in far worse league finish than us.
Pep won the title with pretty much a similar defensive set up to that which flattered to deceive the season before even if having spent a shit ton of dosh.
Minimum expectation top 4. Top 4 and a cup (FA or Europa) will be a good season. Title we won’t expect but could happen.
I think it would have been a very different response in private if it were Arteta. Frankly as mentioned, this whole Arteta thing is a media invention they wanted to believe. Someone likely made more than a meal of one of 10 interviews Gazidis and company made. They chose to highlight the Arteta one and champion him in their own small minds as the front runner. BUT as Gazidis mentioned the club met Emery already on May 10th and even took him to meet with the Kroenkes so if Arteta was front runner and we did a “180” it doesn’t… Read more »
Anyone else felt that was a slight dig at wenger by miki? The comment about new tactical ideas.
Seems like he was hinting that tactically wenger wasnt up to it.
I think they all know they are suffering from lack of direction from the bench. Wenger in general buys well but in recent vintage his non intervetionist/open to interpretation approach has not helped his team where in the past, he had benefit of monopoly of talent (technical) from the continent and a golden generation from France. That has eroded and he has not made balance with better tactics (not saying he is poor since he got the better of Conte…and indeed finished above Emery’s PSG in CL group) I hope Emery does not keep BOuld. Kick him upstairs to a… Read more »
After the Great Betrayal when Cesc, Nasri, RVP all stabbed him. (Had they stayed, their careers would have been better, and they would be still playing at Arsenal, and what might have been …though mike dean and gang would have stuck the knife in anyway). Thats what really hurt Wenger and made him go for experienced buys. With limited funds he bought Per,Kos, Arteta, Podolski, Gervinho, Giroud, Cazorla all in the 10-15 M range to rebuild Most people would call that amazing buying. The last few years seem to have been a mixed bad with a lot of fiddling and… Read more »
Think you’re reading too much into it; it’s not like Wenger’s tactics have been detrimental to Mkhi’s performances.
I wonder why people seem keen to spread the impression that a manager holding his job down for 22 yrs, while delivering consistent results and trophies, was actually an imbecile.
I mean, why go there?
No, it is just an obvious statement to make about a new manager, he’ll bring something new, that’s exciting.
One of the reasons I am so excited about next season is the improvement in terms of coaching. I think the more driven members of the team.are excited to grow as players and who can blame them. If you’re a millionaire what else is there but to learn and get better…….and earn that pundit / coach job later in life