Arsene Wenger says Arsenal should have given Unai Emery more time
Unai Emery was not given enough time to establish his value as Arsenal manager, according to Arsenal icon Arsene Wenger.
Emery succeeded Wenger in the Emirates Stadium dugout in 2018, and in his first season at the club, he guided Arsenal to the Europa League final. However, they were beaten 4-1 by Chelsea in that game, while squandering a chance to finish in the Premier League‘s top four.
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Midway through his second season, the Spaniard was fired and replaced by Mikel Arteta. Last season, Emery came back to haunt Arsenal after his Villarreal team knocked them out of the Europa League on their road to victory.
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Following Villarreal’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Liverpool, Wenger said on beIN Sport that his previous team were too quick to sack Emery.
“They didn’t give him enough time, but there is a lot to talk about. For example, is it right that a team who is not successful in the group stages can play in the Europa League,” Wenger said.
“For the last 10 years, the teams who are not successful in the Champions League go on to win the UEFA Cup. So, he has transformed a non-successful team into a successful one with Sevilla.
“It was more to give an importance to the trophy than to the sporting integrity. I think Unai Emery is a great coach, he has shown it in Spain and he is constantly at the top level.”
