Good read as always, DJ.

Don't disagree with much or have much to add!

I do think Emery would have been much better with the backing Arteta has received but wouldn't have done as well as Arteta has, Arteta has just been an incredible appointment for us.

We had some big name players who were still very capable on their day but coming toward the end of their best (none did much after leaving us) and an awful lot of dross. Bar Martinez (who was untested) the keepers were carp, the defence was really carp, yes we had some top forward thinking players but I'm not sure there were many, if any managers who could've got those personalities at that time into a proper team even without the obvious weaknesses with the rest of the squad.

One of the best things we've done under the Arteta regime is clear out anyone not willing to buy completely into the managers philosophy. Emery didn't get a chance to do this, whether he would've or not I guess we'll never know. He's certainly doing a great job at Villa.

Big money players on big wages that were hard to shift. Didn't quite have the personality to deal with them either, or demand to the board that they be replaced.

Arteta came in and there was just something about him, from his very first interview that seemed like he had much more authority despite it being his first job.

Yeah the squad Emery inherited was god awful. I hated the "bromance" between Auba and Laca as well, two players clearly phoning it in and not interested in doing anything in any kind of tough situation, but happy to start dancing when 4-0 up at home vs The Dog'n'Duck

I don't think he had much of a chance either, he had a squad full of dossers so the only real way to move forward was with the complete overhaul that we ended up doing under Arteta.

Unfortunately for Emery the people in higher up positions back then we're also problematic and he didn't seem to be able to clearly communicate what his expectations were and where he wanted to go, which meant it was hard for people to buy into him in the same way we did under Arteta.

Emery said so himself that he felt alone at Arsenal, he needs to work with Monchi or someone like that who would help him deal with the players.

I just don't think he's the sort of character to do well at a big club like Arsenal, but he's a good manager.

His English was also pretty poor when he came to us, it's much better now and was when he started at Villa which was no doubt a better way to start off when meeting the squad.

Think we must not debate here if Emery is a good or a bad manager. His success speaks for itself.

After the Wenger era Arsenal needed a bit more than only a good manager.

A guy that knew about the structure, philosophy and value of the club. We needed a complete turnaround on and off the pitch. The atmosphere around the fanbase was pure poisen.

Emery wasnt able to provide that. We needed a guy like Arteta who lived in England for several years and learnt from Pep.

Some of his signings were Lichsteiner, Sokratis, Guendozi, Toreira.

Aston Villa got a great result last night, beating Bayern Munich 1-0 in what is being described as an Emery masterclass.
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I believe the reason it was being described as an Emery masterclass was because Bayern mostly dominated Villa, but then gave away a very well taken goal. They were never really in the game apart from a few dangerous counters. The game very much reminded me of when Arsenal played Villa last season.

And that's the crux of why I believe Emery failed at Arsenal. Arsenal wanted someone to make them competitive to Klopp/Pep and not someone who would be challenging for CL positions every season.

Henry talks crap at times, is he jealous of Arteta?

https://x.com/DejiCNO/status/1841584732133282249

Henry wanted to replace emery when Daniel ek was publicising a bid for The Arsenal.

we would've been relegated if that happened