Arsenal board on Emery: The managing director of the club has set his expectations from Unai Emery this season.
Arsenal have been impressive under Unai Emery so far. The club is on a 16-game unbeaten run across all competitions. However, the last few weeks have been worrisome for Unai Emery and the Arsenal board.
The side was held to draw in their last three league games, which have pushed them down to 5th place in the Premier League table. Moreover, the gap between Arsenal and the fourth-placed Tottenham has increased to three points.
The pressure is mounting on Unai Emery to end the frustrating draw-run in the league. In the Europa League, however, Arsenal are at the top of their group, with 10 points from four games.
In the meantime, Arsenal’s managing director, Vinai Venkatesham has also issued a statement about the club’s current position and their ambitions.
Arsenal board warns Emery:
Venkatesham insisted that Arsenal must qualify for the Champions League, at the very least.
“This is not where we want to be. We have to improve, step forward,” said the Arsenal managing director. “The most pressing thing is to get back in the Champions League. That’s where this club needs to be as an absolute minimum.
“Being in the Europa League has a material financial impact across the club. It’s tens of millions of pounds.”
Venkatesham insisted that Arsenal must be competing in Europe’s top competition and return to winning trophies regularly.
Internal restructuring taking place at Arsenal led by Raul Sanllehi:
-Raul Sanllehi is the head of football
-Vinai Venkatesham is managing director
-Sven Mislintat to be promoted as technical director
-Huss Fahmy to become head of football operations.https://t.co/DzeCyNuo4E— LTArsenal™ (@ltarsenal) November 20, 2018
“The more years you spend out of the Champions League, the bigger the strain it puts on the business model.
“But we also need to be competing in the number one European competition because that’s where our supporters, players and all the staff want to be. We are trying to make our fans proud of their club.”
“We do that most effectively by winning matches and trophies — and clearly the trophies we want more than anything else are the Premier League and the Champions League.”
However, Venkatesham admitted that the fans need to be realistic, considering the current situation at the club.
“But we need to be realistic. Last season we finished sixth and we’re having our second season in a row in the Europa League.
#afc Director Vinai Venkatesham on Emery:
‘His energy & work ethic are absolutely extraordinary, When you are on that long flight home from eastern Europe after a Europa League game and everyone is trying to get a little bit of sleep, he is watching the game, analysing it. pic.twitter.com/sKX0bjh11J
— UberGunners (@UberGunners) November 21, 2018
“We know there are at least six teams in the Premier League who have a minimum requirement of being in the Champions League.
“So we know it’s not going to be easy. But we need to start winning the biggest trophies and I absolutely believe we can do that.”
