Arsenal: Manchester United struggles vindicate Unai Emery decision

Manchester United continue to struggle in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. Their toils vindicate the seemingly wise decision of Arsenal to hire Unai Emery as Arsene Wenger’s successor.

When it came to replacing Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, there was only ever one man truly considered for the job, When the club’s greatest manager in its history singlehandedly picks out a candidate, you do not hire someone else.

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Ferguson famously named David Moyes as his ideal successor. ‘The Chosen One’ murals were laid across Old Trafford. A year later, they were quickly replaced for ones telling of a far bleaker future.

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Moyes’ departure, though, did not solve United’ problems. In fact, it was just the start. Both managers since, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, have followed very similar patterns in their tenures: spend an egregious amount of money, mismanage the players they sign, complain that the squad is lacking in the necessary talent and demand that they are given more money to spend.

This has led to United finishing in the top three just once since Ferguson’s retirement, a rather distant second-place finish last year. The last time that United had finished outside of the top three under Ferguson was in 1991. This has been a very different club in the post-Ferguson era, and not for the better.

United are Arsenal’s next Premier League opponents, Old Trafford playing host to this great rivalry on Wednesday night. The match comes at an extremely intriguing time for both teams. United are floundering under Mourinho, sitting in just seventh position with a negative goal difference. Arsenal, on the other hand, are buoyant.

The Gunners had to go through the same process of succeeding a legendary manager this season. Arsene Wenger was asked to resign at the end of last season after 22 years in charge. It was time for a new era. The hiring process was a lengthy one, interviewing a wide range of candidates, eventually settling on former Paris Saint-Germain head coach Unai Emery.

And it seems as though, at this early juncture, that they have made a good decision. Emery has enthused the club with a passion and fire that has united the fan base and electrified the Emirates, culminating in a fiery 4-2 North London Derby win on Sunday afternoon. Contrast that to the drab, dreary, downhearted feeling in Manchester, and it is clear to see the disparity in how these two clubs have dealt with succeeding their legendary manager.

There was a little backlash when Emery was announced as the head coach. Mikel Arteta was strongly reported as the leader of the process. Emery was seen as a relative failure at PSG, especially in the Champions League. He wasn’t a particularly high profile appointment. And yet, his early work has been excellent, and it only looks more excellent when United’s struggles are put into comparison.

As these two teams clash on Wednesday night, their differing trajectories only become more evident. And that is a brilliant vindication of the decision to hire Unai Emery as Arsenal head coach.