‘If Unai Emery was Arsenal’s manager last season – we might have won the league’

Tony Adams has suggested Arsenal may have won the league if Unai Emery was still in charge.

Mikel Arteta took over as Gunners boss back in December 2019 after Emery was sacked following a dismal run of form and a Europa League final battering months earlier by Chelsea. Arteta has since brought the feel-good factor back to north London, rebuilding a shambolic squad with hungry youngsters.

But the Spaniard, 41, fell short at the final hurdle last season as he looked to deliver Arsenal’s first Premier League title since 2004. And club legend Adams has now suggested his inexperience played a part in Arsenal’s sudden collapse in the business end of the campaign.

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Adams told talkSPORT: “I love him [Arteta]. I love his passion and enthusiasm. I’ve always said he’s a little bit inexperienced and perhaps needs to draw on someone in his staff who is a little more experienced. I’m talking about going across the line last season.

“We all make mistakes and aren’t perfect. He perhaps didn’t rotate players early enough last season. People were running out of steam, like Bukayo Saka.

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“I think he’s doing great. Last year, weirdly if Unai Emery was our manager then we could have perhaps won the league.

“I know he didn’t stick around and following Arsene Wenger was difficult, a bit like George Graham being followed by Bruce Rioch. I think he missed a few bits last season to get us over the line.”

Despite Adams’ harsh observation, the Gunners are in the midst of another title challenge this season. An 89th minute goal away at Brentford on Saturday was crucial in maintaining momentum, taking Arteta’s men back on top of the table.

Emery, meanwhile, has proven a revelation at Aston Villa this season. The record four-time Europa League winner’s Villans are currently fourth in the league, two points behind the league leaders after beating Tottenham 2-1 – a result all of the aforementioned names could surely get behind.

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