Arsenal set for exciting reunion with old acquaintance

Arsenal are trying to keep their own house in order and avoid peeking over into someone else’s garden. But that’s proving most impossible at this point in the season.

Just one regular day of Barclays. That’s all I ask for. Will never happen.

Antonio Conte is being as swiftly appointed at Tottenham as Nuno Espirito Santo was abruptly sacked. A world class manager with outstanding pedigree joining a world class NFL team with an unbathed mongrel. Not Mikel Arteta‘s or the fans‘ business, but it’s just up the road so it has some relevance.

And way up the road on Tyneside there is nothing tying Arsenal to Newcastle other than former Gunner Joe Willock who is probably regretting his decision to move to the club in the summer, a feeling not reciprocated in north London.

Arsenal set for exciting reunion with former manager Unai Emery who looks set to take over the vacant post in charge of Premier League rivals Newcastle

But he’ll be feeling a touch better as the new week commences. Indeed, Unai Emery is the front runner to be taking over the vacant managerial position – he always liked Willock – with a deal in place to see him sit in the dugout for their upcoming Premier League meeting with Brighton.

Emery. The four-time Europa League winner. Taking charge of Jeff Hendrick and Ciaran Clark. In a relegation dogfight.

Just one regular day of Barclays. That’s all I ask for. Will never happen.

As per The Athletic it’s just a matter of sorting out the severance packages and agreeing on a salary. How about that then? Emery almost back in the Premier League? And, as everyone would have noticed, back at the Emirates in three matches’ time.

27 November. Pencil it in.

On the whole, it’s an interesting move, albeit one that comes across as a peculiar fit. Throughout his entire Arsenal tenure it was made clear that Emery wanted to be a head coach, and no more. He dealt with winning football matches with the players he had. At Newcastle, there is a dearth of leadership in all quarters with the new hierarchy and structure in place, and it’s a job screaming out for someone to come in and assume full control.

Furthermore, is he relegation material? The Magpies have an abysmal defensive record and shoring that up is high on the agenda, whereas as Emery’s failure to do so at Arsenal and outspoken preference to win ‘5-4 as opposed to 1-0’ isn’t going to benefit a porous Newcastle outfit.

Managers have to be adaptable, of course, and work with what they have, and despite being the wrong fit for Arsenal there is no doubting Emery’s coaching acumen. This does feel, however, like a an opportunity he can’t turn down, largely due to him supposedly being on the bring of the sack with Villarreal, but also due to the embarrassment of riches at his disposal.

January is still a long way away, mind you.

So, on one side Tottenham are upgrading in the dugout, and on the other Newcastle are appointing the man who took Arsenal to a European final to help them stave off relegation. All fans of the club will wish him all the best, with what is an unavoidably dreadful squad. Back at the Emirates to take on Arteta in front of a crowd, though? Exciting.

But come on. Just one regular day of Barclays. That’s all I ask for. Will never happen.