Emery Appointment ‘The Right Decision’ Says Parlour

Gunners legend Ray Parlour says that the appointment of Unai Emery was ‘the right decision’ for Arsenal, amidst a field of highly touted candidates. Following Arsene Wenger’s departure this summer, names such as Mikel Arteta, Carlo Ancelotti, Patrick Vieira and Max Allegri were all floated. But ex-Invincible Parlour thinks Arsenal went down the right route with Emery.

“I think it was totally the right decision,” Ray told Arseblog News, “A lot of other people were touted to get the job, but for me, Emery was the right choice. I think we’re looking more towards what he did with Sevilla. I think I could probably manage PSG to win the league! But if he can bring a little bit of what he brought to Sevilla, I think he’ll be a big success.”

Parlour thinks it would have been too big a risk to appoint a managerial novice into the role, with Arteta reportedly very close to landing the job. “I think I would marginally have gone for Vieira over Arteta if Arsenal were going to go down that route, to be honest. I think Arteta will be a great manager, but Vieira has that little bit more experience.

“But they needed a bit more experience and they’ve got that in Emery. I think in the long run, Patrick could be the Arsenal manager. But we’ve gone with someone proven who has won trophies. But I think we’re going to need to be patient as well. Things aren’t going to change overnight, but he should get a good pre-season, which will be very important.”

Parlour does have a few ex-teammates on the coaching staff in Jens Lehmann and Steve Bould. Their futures remain unclear, at least publicly, in the wake of the new managerial appointment. Parlour hopes that they are kept around under Emery. “Bouldy is still there, there is a role for him, but I don’t think we know yet what that is.

“Jens is still there too and I hope they both stay. They are really well respected at Arsenal. When Arsene Wenger came in, Boro Primorac was the only person he took with him. He kept Pat Rice, Geordie Armstrong, Liam Brady and the backroom staff and I think he found that really helpful. A lot of people have left, but I think it’s important for the club’s stability to keep a nucleus.”

The man nicknamed the Romford Pele is also enthused by the experience the Gunners are adding to the squad, with Sokratis set to join Stephan Lichtsteiner at the club this summer, “Lichtsteiner is a leader- he’s the captain of Switzerland. He is a player that can handle big games. I’m hoping he can give that bit of experience and maybe he can help Hector Bellerin, who is still a young player who is learning.”

Parlour believes adding that bit of defensive knowhow will be a priority for Emery, “Arsenal need to get the right blend of attacking football and being a defensive unit. I think that’s why the away results were so bad last season, the team didn’t know how to change its approach. I think there will be a bit more energy in the team, a bit more pressing.

“When you’re up against it in big games, or away from home, sometimes you have to be more disciplined. We did it when I played, we had periods where we would drop and say ‘right, we’re going to do a job for ten minutes and weather the storm, then we can get back on the front foot.’ At times, when Arsenal were put under pressure, especially away, they would concede and they need to learn how to manage those situations.”

Ray was speaking at the launch of the new Arsenal away kit in London’s Leicester Square. You can buy the new shirt here.