According to the latest reports, Arsenal boss Unai Emery has revealed that Watford manager Javi Garcia talked him into taking up the job in North London after the departure of Arsene Wenger. The Gunners take on Watford at Vicarage Road in a Monday night Premier League clash and Emery has spoken out on his opposite number.
Unai Emery has done quite a commendable job ever since arriving at Arsenal in the summer of 2018 and replacing his legendary predecessor Arsene Wenger. The 69-year-old was in charge of Arsenal for 22 long years and won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups in the process. Wenger instilled a tremendous philosophy into Arsenal and he got a lot of success to the club famously winning the ‘Invincible’ title when his side went unbeaten throughout the course of the season. But towards the last few seasons in charge, Wenger was unable to take the club forward as the younger bunch of managers were able to outwit and out tactic the veteran. His football was creating an illusion of staleness at the Emirates and even his most ardent fans wanted him to step down from his position in power.
Arsenal were crying out for a new appointment and Wenger announced that he would be leaving in the summer if 2018. There were plenty of candidates that were linked to taking up the job vacancy which was going to arise at Arsenal and initially it looked like it would be Manchester City assistant coach Mikel Arteta but former Sevilla and Paris Saint Germain manager Unai Emery was appointed and unveiled as the man who could take Arsenal forward.
Arsenal currently sit in fourth place in the Premier League table and are in the quarterfinals of the Europa League as well. The Gunners look like serious contenders to win the continental trophy under Emery but 47-year-old has revealed that Watford coach Javi Garcia convinced him to take up the job at Arsenal.
Ahead of Arsenal’s encounter against Watford, he said, “So when the possibility opened up to sign here, the first coach, the first person in the football world I called was him (Gracia). I asked him some questions about the football here, the clubs, Arsenal and he recommended to me that I come here. One day, I also met with David Silva in Valencia last year and he said to me: ‘coach if you can come to England, it is the best football and the best atmosphere for you also. We [Emery and Gracia] played together (at Real Sociedad) for just one year in 1996. We sometimes talk away from football and spend time together, for example, we had dinner, their coaches and with our coaches, one day in St Albans in September.”
Emery & @WatfordFC manager Javi García played together at Real Sociedad in 1996. Emery: “He’s very competitive & his team have started the season very well.” #afc pic.twitter.com/jdm9myP7yY
— Sam (@samuelJayC) September 28, 2018
Emery went on to add, “We spoke about football here, English football and their experience because they were here six months before us. It was a good conversation about football because Javi Gracia is also a football man. They are my friends, not only Javi Gracia but also his assistant Zigor Aranalde and Inigo Arteaga. We know the assistant coaches and Javi Gracia and we appreciate them.”
Well, the Gooners will not be really bothered as to why the Spaniard took the job at the Emirates, as long as he can perform now. He has been doing a decent job since the departure of Wenger, though there have been certain places where he and his team can surely improve.
Their recent away form has not been the best, which would now cost them a place in the top four of the league and a Champions League spot for the upcoming campaign. Hopefully things can be rectified and Emery gets sufficient time to prove his worth at the English outfit.
