Arsenal appoint Unai Emery as new manager

The former Paris Saint-Germain and Valencia boss replaces Arsene Wenger who left the club at the end of the season after 22 years.

Emery said he was excited to be given the job and that an “important new chapter in Arsenal’s history” had begun.

Emery,46, who will be unveiled at a press conference at the Emirates on Wednesday afternoon, will work in a head coach capacity at Arsenal.

It follows the appointments of Raul Sanllehi as head of football relations and Sven Mislintat as head of recruitment over the past year.

The club appear to be keen to steer away from the model established under Wenger and Emery is expected to work closely with the pair in a bid to bring success back to Arsenal.

Emery said on Arsenal’s website: “I am thrilled to be joining one of the great clubs in the game.

“Arsenal is known and loved throughout the world for its style of play, its commitment to young players, the fantastic stadium, the way the club is run.

“I’m very excited to be given the responsibility to start this important new chapter in Arsenal’s history.”

The club’s chief executive Ivan Gazidis said the board’s decision to appoint Emery had been unanimous.

He said: “Unai has an outstanding track record of success throughout his career, has developed some of the best young talent in Europe and plays an exciting, progressive style of football that fits Arsenal perfectly.”

“His hard-working and passionate approach and his sense of values on and off the pitch make him the ideal person to take us forward.

“We conducted a confidential, wide-ranging and rigorous search involving extensive background references, data and video analysis, and personal meetings with all the candidates we shortlisted.

“All were interested in the position and we were unanimous in our choice of Unai to drive the next chapter of our history.”

On Tuesday, Emery’s website featured a picture of him against the Arsenal crest with the slogan: “Proud to be part of the Arsenal family.” – Sky News.