Here are your Arsenal evening headlines for Saturday 16 May.
Emery opens up on Arsenal tenure
Unai Emery has admitted that he “felt alone” during his time in charge of Arsenal.
The Spaniard was sacked in November 2019 after 18 months at the helm, and he has now opened up on his departure in an interview with the Guardian.
The former Sevilla boss says that he struggled to turn things around as Arsenal’s form deteriorated at the start of 2019/20.
“It’s difficult,” he said. “The energy slips, things drift; everything does, everyone does. Some support you but you feel the atmosphere, relationships [shift]. And that transmits to the pitch.
“Losing leads against Palace and Wolves reflected our emotional state: we weren’t right. It wasn’t working. I told the players: ‘I don’t see the team I want.’
“That commitment and unity wasn’t there any more. That’s when I see I’m on my own. The club left me alone, and there was no solution.”
Emery wanted Zaha over Pepe
In the same interview, Emery discussed the club-record signing of Nicolas Pepe from Lille.
Arsenal paid £72m to sign the Ivory Coast international, but Emery says he would have preferred to acquire Wilfried Zaha.
The Gunners pursued the Crystal Palace forward but ultimately looked elsewhere after being priced out of a move.
“We signed Pepe. He’s a good player but we didn’t know his character and he needs time, patience,” Emery said.
“I favoured someone who knew the league and wouldn’t need to adapt. Zaha won games on his own: Tottenham, Manchester City, us. Incredible performances.
“I told them: ‘This is the player I know and want.’ I met Zaha and he wanted to come. The club decided Pepe was one for the future. I said: ‘Yes, but we need to win now and this lad wins games.'”
Former star Sansom in hospital
Former Arsenal left-back Kenny Sansom is in hospital, a message on his Twitter account revealed.
“Kenny is currently ill in hospital. He is being well cared for and does not have COVID-19. Kenny’s family and close friends kindly ask the media to respect his and their privacy, plus that of the healthcare workers treating Kenny,” it read.
The England international joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace in 1980 and went on to make 394 appearances for the club.
During his eight years in north London Sansom was voted into the PFA Team of the Year on seven occasions.
He won the League Cup with Arsenal in 1987, then left for Newcastle the following year.
