On the 23rd May 2018, Arsenal announced that Unai Emery had been appointed as manager of the club.
Following the surprise announcement of Arsene Wenger’s departure from Arsenal at the end of the 2017/18 season, the search for who would take up the momentous task of replacing the legendary Frenchman began, and after weeks of speculation and rumours, former PSG manager Emery was confirmed to be the successor to the Gunners’ greatest ever manager.
Here’s how Arsenal fans reacted when the news broke…
Unai Emery’s Red army going to surprise everyone next season. BELIEVE! #COYG
— LTArsenal™️ (@ltarsenal) May 23, 2018
#WelcomeUnai massive welcome to THE Arsenal @UnaiEmery_ . Excited for the future. Lets get the fans back connecting with the club again with our football. Lets get competing again. Need a new goalie 2 defenders and a midfielder. And get jack and aaron signed up ! #coyg #gooner
— deano (@deanobaby89) May 23, 2018
Welcome @UnaiEmery_ to Arsenal exciting times ahead
— Cheekyface (@cheekyface78) May 23, 2018
Let’s get behind him New era.. Up the Reds
— TD (@Tom_Dear12) May 23, 2018
Welcome. pic.twitter.com/AnXxolCLOK
— محمد. (@hm_24n) May 23, 2018
Welcome to Arsenal . May you bring those glorious Arsenal days back again to Arsenal . #WelcomeUnai
— Swarit Sohaard (@SSohaard) May 23, 2018
Excited for the start of the season for the first time in a long while! #WelcomeUnai
— Ryan Tatham (@tatham91) May 23, 2018
I became adult thinking that Arsenal is named after Arsene
My childrens will become adult thinking Emirates is named after Emery.#WelcomeUnai
— Valar Arsenalis (@andthatsoffside) May 23, 2018
Since joining the club, Emery has been a success in north London. The Spaniard has led the club to fourth in the Premier League table with seven games remaining and taken Arsenal to the Europa League quarter-finals after some nervy games against BATE and Stade Rennais in the earlier knockout games.
Despite some poor results, such as being knocked out by Manchester United in the FA Cup and losing to the likes of West Ham and Southampton in the league, Emery has been behind some massive results for the Gunners this season, such as coming from behind to beat Tottenham 4-2 in December and getting revenge over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side 2-0 to send Arsenal into the top four.
As for signings, Emery has recruited well after leaving a club with as deep as pockets as PSG.
Signings such as Matteo Guendouzi, Bernd Leno and Lucas Torreira have been massive hits in north London, whereas the only real bad signing Emery has brought in has been Stephan Lichtsteiner on a free from Juventus on a one-year deal.
His development of current players has also been a big factor to Arsenal’s success this season, with the likes of Rob Holding, Alex Iwobi and Hector Bellerin all flourishing under Emery and his training methods and tactics.
With big games coming up against Watford, Wolves and Leicester City away from home, Champions League football still needs to be confirmed for Arsenal this season, and if Emery is to do that he will be considered a success in his first campaign in the Premier League.
