Bitter Unai Emery takes swipe at Arsenal saying Mikel Arteta is only ‘continuing what I began’ and slams impatient fans
UNAI EMERY has taken a swipe at his former club Arsenal saying Mikel Arteta is “continuing what I began.”
The Spaniard took charge of the Gunners after legendary boss Arsene Wenger‘s departure in 2018.
In his first season, Arsenal reached the Europa League final – a competition Emery has won four times.
But fellow Premier League side Chelsea beat them 4-1 on what was Eden Hazard’s last appearance for the club.
The Gunners also finished fifth, narrowly missing out on a Champions League spot.
Emery was sacked in his second season following a 2–1 home defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.
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He was replaced on an interim basis by Freddie Ljungberg and later on a permanent basis by Mikel Arteta.
Arteta had instant success, winning the FA Cup with Arsenal after seeing off Manchester City in the semis and Chelsea in the final.
Emery says Arteta is doing a good job at “continuing” what he began and has hit out at impatient fans.
Speaking to The Athletic, Emery said: “Arteta is doing a good job, continuing what I began.
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“He has had that patience from the fans, the patience they did not have with me. But I understand that.”
Emery says “many changes” were needed at Arsenal and it was not “an easy process.”
He continued: “Five captains left in the first year, there were many changes and patience was needed.
“It was not an easy process. The fans did not have patience. Xhaka had problems with the fans and in the dressing room where other experienced players did not understand his role as captain.
“Xhaka was an important player for me — he was a good person, very committed to his coach.
“The club was happy with me, but the fans were calling for a change, and it had to happen.”
PATH FOR THE KIDS
Hale End boys Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe were also given a path into the first-team under Emery.
On the pair, Emery said: “That was the change. Saka and Smith Rowe began to play with me.
“I gave Saka his Premier League debut against Fulham, on January 1, when he was 17.
“You had to work with these young players, to replace those who were there before. Gabriel Martinelli, who arrived then too — I knew he was a player who would grow.
‘They have put together a group who are all going in the same direction, working together, showing respect.
“I knew that whoever began after Wenger, it was difficult for people to understand the changes that had to be made.”