Emery’s Arsenal start new era with City clash
LONDON: Unai Emery faces a daunting task to lift Arsenal out of the doldrums as the Gunners head into a new Premier League season without Arsene Wenger as their manager for the first time in 22 years.
Emery was hired to replace Wenger following the Frenchman’s exit at the end of a dismal campaign which saw Arsenal labour to a sixth place finish in the Premier League.
Arsenal’s Premier League opener against champions Manchester City on Sunday will provide an early look at how Emery is faring in cleaning up the mess left by Wenger at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal had been stuck in a downward spiral for years and with Wenger unable to reverse the decline, owner Stan Kroenke finally dispensed with the most successful manager in his club’s history despite the Frenchman’s desire to stay.
Finishing 37 points behind City was a fitting ending for the dispiriting final season of the Wenger era – a torrid campaign layed out to a soundtrack of angry protests against the manager from frustrated fans.
Yet despite Arsenal’s reduced status, Emery, who parted ways with Paris Saint-germain at the end of last season, jumped at the chance to follow in Wenger’s footsteps in north London.
Returning to the Champions League via a top four finish in the Premier League will be Emery’s main target, yet knocking one of City, Manchester United, Liverpool or Tottenham from those positions, and also overtaking Chelsea, is a tough proposition.
TV TIMINGS
Liverpool v West Ham, 6:00pm; Arsenal v Manchester City, 8:30pm, live on Star Sports Select 1 & HD.