Thierry Henry has sparked a heated debate by questioning Arsenal's decision to sack Unai Emery in 2019. The Gunners legend believes Emery, who has since achieved remarkable success with Aston Villa, wasn't given sufficient time to prove his worth at the North London club.
A tactical genius cut short
Unai Emery took the reins at Arsenal in 2018, following Arsène Wenger's 22-year tenure. Despite a promising start, Emery's time at the Emirates was short-lived, lasting only 18 months. In his only complete season, he guided Arsenal to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League, narrowly missing out on a top-four spot.
Emery also led the Gunners to the Europa League final in his debut season, but a dismal run of seven games without a win in his second season sealed his fate.
Thierry Henry, widely regarded as one of Arsenal's greatest ever players, praised Emery's tactical abilities in a recent show with CBS Sports. Henry stated,
"He's a tactical genius. He always goes out there and makes sure that his team has an advantage tactically because that's how he operates."
The French icon acknowledged Mikel Arteta's current success at Arsenal but suggested that Emery might have achieved similar results if given more time. Henry remarked,
"If we kept him a bit longer, he would have been a success at Arsenal. He did show it straight after when he left the club."
A remarkable turnaround
Since his departure from Arsenal, Unai Emery has successfully rebuilt his reputation. He led Villarreal to Europa League glory before taking charge at Aston Villa in October 2022. Under his stewardship, Villa has undergone a remarkable transformation, going from a team battling relegation to a serious contender for a top-four spot in the Premier League.
Aston Villa's recent triumph over Bayern Munich in the Champions League has further underlined Emery's managerial prowess, evoking memories of their European Cup win against the same opposition in 1982.
Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool defender turned pundit, echoed Henry's sentiments regarding Emery's abilities. "I think he's fantastic. I think he's one of the best coaches in European football," Carragher commented. He ranked Emery as the second-best manager in the Premier League, behind only Pep Guardiola, in terms of impact and ability.
Carragher highlighted the incredible turnaround that Emery has engineered at Villa, saying, "Within a couple of years, they're in the Champions League. It's phenomenal what he's done."
The success enjoyed by both Emery at Aston Villa and Arteta at Arsenal raises intriguing questions about different managerial styles and the patience shown by clubs. Whilst Arteta was given time to implement significant changes to the squad, Emery was not afforded the same luxury during his time at Arsenal.