ARSENAL’S stars will struggle to get much past incoming manager Unai Emery if rumours from his past are true.
The Spaniard is set to be unveiled as Arsene Wenger’s replacement after wowing Emirates chiefs in a secret meeting two weeks ago.
Former Paris Saint-Germain boss Emery blew away Arsenal’s recruitment team — including chief executive Ivan Gazidis, head of football relations Raul Sanllehi and head of recruitment Sven Mislintat — during a stunning presentation.
Emery staggered them with a forensic analysis of every player in Wenger’s current squad and provided detailed stats and information on EXACTLY how he would improve them.
But technology is not a new tool for the 46-year-old – and it is not only opponents that have been caught out.
Back in his time at Valencia he used to hand his squad video homework via a USB stick.
However, Emery became slightly suspicious that one of his men was not following his advice about watching the clips.
He cunningly handed the mysterious player a blank drive and asked him afterwards: “Did you watch it?”
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The ace clearly lied and responded: “Yes, don’t worry boss.”
So Arsenal’s stars have been warned. Some may well have thought they could pull the wool over Wenger’s eyes – but it must just be a little more difficult to get past the new guy.
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Emery flew in to London for another interview yesterday and is now expected to be unveiled this week.
His success at Sevilla, where he won the Europa League three years running before his move to France, has long been noticed by the Emirates hierarchy.
More critically, he made clear from the outset that he accepted the financial situation at Arsenal had changed.
Emery effectively spent £260m last summer with the arrivals of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Dani Alves and Yuri Berchiche at PSG.
Merely winning Ligue 1 was seen as a disappointment after Champions League exits at the hands of Barcelona and Real Madrid in his two seasons.
But he had previously worked under the director of football models at Valencia and Sevilla, where finances were much more tight.
And now the Spaniard, a 66-1 outsider with the bookies just ten days ago, is on the verge of being unveiled as Arsenal’s first new manager in 22 years by the end of the week.
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