Unai Emery: 'I want Arsenal to be back among Europe's elite'

Sport 20:50 24.05.2018
Unai Emery said he wants Arsenal to be among Europe's elite once more when he appeared at his first news conference since being appointed as Arsene Wenger's successor.
 
The 46-year-old was officially appointed on Wednesday before he, along with chief executive Ivan Gazidis, addressed a packed media room.
 
He said: "Success next season would be developing, but how? By battling for every title.
 
"That's in Arsenal's and my history."
 
Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League in 2017 and won't feature in the 2018-19 competition having previously been in every year since 1998.
 
Gazidis revealed that the Spaniard was on an eight-man shortlist for the job, but was the club's main target.
 
"All eight took part in extensive interviews and none of them withdrew from the process," said the chief executive, who added that the job was the most attractive in world football.
 
"We were in a fortunate position to name our first choice.
 
"Our first interview was on 25 April and our last was on the 15 May. A formal recommendation to the board was supported by a 100-page dossier with a great degree of background information.
 
"All of the board members were energised and enthused by our decision."
 
Gazidis said the former Valencia, Sevilla and Paris St-Germain boss impressed the interview panel with his "meticulous preparation".
 
"He was extraordinarily well prepared with a knowledge of Arsenal and an analysis of all of our players, their qualities and how he can help them develop.
 
"The thing that distinguished him above all that was the chemistry between us and the feeling for football in the room.
 
"He has a feeling and competitive energy and it is this passion, love for football and will to win that made us feel it as exactly right for Arsenal."
 
Emery told the gathered media he flew to Atlanta with Gazidis, head of recruitment Sven Mislintat and head of football relations Raul Sanllehi in order to meet the club's major shareholder Stan Kroenke and his family.
 
"We want to work on this club together," he added. "I know my ambition and my passion and to know how I want to grow up with Arsenal.
 
"All the conversations I have had with the club shows we share the same vision for the club."
 
The Gunners finished sixth in the Premier League last season - their lowest position since they finished 12th during the 1994-95 campaign. One of the complaints from supporters was the lack of quality in the current squad.
 
Asked whether he will need a recruitment drive this summer, Emery said: "I believe we can grow with the players we have.
 
"The objective is to work hard together and with these talented players.
 
"It's very important for the club, after two years outside the Champions League, to work to be the best team in the Premier League and also in the world."
 
He also paid tribute to predecessor Wenger, who was in charge of the club for 22 years: "I want to say thank you Arsene Wenger for your legacy," Emery said.
 
"For all the coaches in the world, he is a reference. We learned, I learned from him all the things in football.
 
"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."
 
What has Emery achieved?
 
Emery announced last month he would leave PSG when his contract expired at the end of the season, despite leading them to the Ligue 1 title.
 
During his two-year spell with the French giants, he also won four domestic cups, having joined from Sevilla in 2016.
 
It was in his home country that the former Real Sociedad and Toledo midfielder made his name as a manager, taking charge at Almeria and Valencia before moving to Sevilla in 2013.
 
There he won three successive Europa League titles as well as finishing runners-up to Barcelona in the 2015-16 Copa del Rey.
 
With a rebuilding job needed at Emirates Stadium following Arsenal's sixth-place finish in the Premier League, his meticulous, hands-on coaching may well be just what the Gunners need.

 

Anti-Azerbaijan and Türkiye banners raised in Ukraine on Anniversary of So-Called Armenian Genocide - VİDEO

News line

Armenian lobby plans provocative rally during Azerbaijani President's Germany visit
00:35 26.04.2024
Xavi agrees to remain Barcelona coach
Xavi agrees to remain Barcelona coach
22:00 25.04.2024
Plane of Azerbaijani President leaves for Berlin from Fuzuli Airport for first time
21:00 25.04.2024
20 border posts installed on Azerbaijan-Armenia border
20:00 25.04.2024
This could be the end of the world economy - Predictions from English politologue
19:25 25.04.2024
Anti-Azerbaijan and Türkiye banners raised in Ukraine on Anniversary of So-Called Armenian Genocide - VİDEO
Anti-Azerbaijan and Türkiye banners raised in Ukraine on Anniversary of So-Called Armenian Genocide - VİDEO
18:50 25.04.2024
Deadly floods wreak havoc in Kenya’s capital
18:29 25.04.2024
Armenia Continues Unsubstantiated Claims Against Azerbaijan in The Hague Court - VİDEO
18:08 25.04.2024
Polish FM: Russia's attack on NATO will result in Moscow's defeat
17:55 25.04.2024
China Facilitates Arms Trade Route Between North Korea and Russia, US Satellite Observations Reveal
17:48 25.04.2024
More than 100 prisoners escaped from prison due to rains in Nigeria
More than 100 prisoners escaped from prison due to rains in Nigeria
17:32 25.04.2024
Kobakhidze: Georgia to soon become member of European Union
17:12 25.04.2024
Kyrgyz President Zhaparov concludes his state visit to Azerbaijan
16:47 25.04.2024
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev invites European Council President Charles Michel to COP29
16:34 25.04.2024
Macron: Europe must show that it is not a US vassal
16:12 25.04.2024
Credit investment in Azerbaijan’s economy increases by 23%
16:00 25.04.2024
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan to cooperate in space field
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan to cooperate in space field
15:49 25.04.2024
Protesters in Yerevan demand resignation of government
Protesters in Yerevan demand resignation of government
15:28 25.04.2024
Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Sadyr Zhaparov tour Shahbulag Castle in Aghdam
15:00 25.04.2024
Second meeting of Foreign Affairs Committee Chairs of Parliaments of Turkic States to be held in Türkiye
Second meeting of Foreign Affairs Committee Chairs of Parliaments of Turkic States to be held in Türkiye
14:30 25.04.2024
First Azerbaijani Ombudsman dies
14:00 25.04.2024
Azerbaijan weather forecast for April 26
Azerbaijan weather forecast for April 26
13:40 25.04.2024
Presidents of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan inspect ongoing works at Palace of Panahali Khans and Imarat complex in Aghdam
13:19 25.04.2024
President Ilham Aliyev and President Sadyr Zhaparov attend opening of Aghdam Juma Mosque after restoration
13:00 25.04.2024
Prime Minister of Nakhchivan dismissed from his post, new PM appointed
12:12 25.04.2024
Hungary plans to purchase more gas from Azerbaijan - FM
11:57 25.04.2024
Kyrgyzstan Joins Efforts in Karabakh Reconstruction, Echoing Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan - OPINION
11:40 25.04.2024
Woman Fell in Love with fake Elon Musk: lost 50 thousand dollars
Woman Fell in Love with fake Elon Musk: lost 50 thousand dollars
11:28 25.04.2024
US secretly shipped long-range missiles to Ukraine
11:16 25.04.2024
10th session of Azerbaijan-Hungary intergovernmental commission kicks off in Baku
11:03 25.04.2024
Azerbaijani citizens granted access to visit newly liberated Lachin in their own vehicles
10:51 25.04.2024
Azerbaijan, US discuss implementation of risk-based supervision model in banks
Azerbaijan, US discuss implementation of risk-based supervision model in banks
10:35 25.04.2024
Ammunition found in Khankandi
10:12 25.04.2024
Politico: ‘Ukraine may not receive additional financial aid from US until election’
10:02 25.04.2024
'US welcomes start of border delimitation process between Azerbaijan, Armenia - State Dept
09:47 25.04.2024
Price of Azerbaijan oil increases
Price of Azerbaijan oil increases
09:31 25.04.2024
National Hero Albert Agarunov remembered on his birthday
09:15 25.04.2024
Hungarian FM embarks on a visit to Azerbaijan
08:50 25.04.2024
Antonov: Russian forces will 'burn' all US supplies to Ukraine
23:42 24.04.2024
Kazakhstan, UK sign strategic partnership and cooperation agreement
22:40 24.04.2024
Hamısı