Arsenal: Unai Emery and others have every right to be frustrated

There are growing murmurs that Unai Emery and other high-level figures at Arsenal are frustrated with the lack of clarity surrounding Ivan Gazidis’ future. They have every right to be.

Unai Emery came to Arsenal to succeed Arsene Wenger. It was a statement, and decision, of change. As soon as the hire was made, it was clear that this club was set to enter into a new era.

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The mastermind of this ushering in of change is Ivan Gazidis. The Chief Executive has wrestled with Wenger for power at the club for many years. Wenger was as much a dictator as he was a manager. He was cut from the old cloth. He wanted full control of the club, having a detailed impact into every process of the club, from the food that is served to the canteen to the tactics of the team on the pitch.

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But Gazidis wanted to steer Arsenal towards a more modern, continental approach, one that implements a team of experts in different areas and brings together their innate knowledge and understanding. Over the last year, Gazidis made a series of crucial hires. The most notable of them being Raul Sanllehi as Head of Relations, Sven Mislintat as Head of Recruitment, and Huss Fahmy as a contracts expert.

It was this team, led by Gazidis, that conducted the search for Wenger’s successor, including shortlisting the candidates, interviewing each of them, and ultimately choosing Emery above others including Patrick Vieira and Mikel Arteta. The foundations of this new era are very much built in the image of Gazidis. And now, just as it’s all about to begin, he may jump ship.

There have been growing reports that Gazidis is considering an offer by AC Milan to be the Chief Executive there after a hedge fund, headed up by his friend, Paul Singer, completed a takeover of the club earlier in the summer. And now, those reports have developed: Emery, among other key figures at the club, is growing frustrated with the lack of clarity surrounding the future of Gazidis as he stalls making a clear decision about whether to accept Milan’s offer or not.

In all fairness, they have every right to be. This is the man that brought them to the club. This is the man that is shaping the future of the organisation, an organisation that they are set to play a key part. This is the man that sold them the vision of this project. And now, he’s about to jump ship and leave them all behind.

What is even more aggravating is that he is dragging his feet over his decision. If Gazidis is to leave, it would be better for him to just leave and allow Arsenal to begin the exhaustive and extended search for his replacement. Emer, Mislintat, Sanllehi and others involved are quite justified in their frustrations with Gazidis.

It remains to be seen what Gazidis’ decision will be. It might be the case that he has already made his decision privately. It might be the case that there is no friction between him and his colleagues. But I find that difficult to believe. Frustration seems natural in this situation, and it’s absolutely vindicated.