A report has revealed the other seven managerial candidates that Arsenal considered replacing Arsene Wenger with.
Unai Emery was the man selected in 2018 to take the Gunners forward after the end of an era under Wenger that spanned 22 years.
Wenger won the Premier League title three times – triumphing in 1998, 2002 and 2004 – while in north London, as well as seven FA Cups and seven Community Shields.
Emery was criticised recently after his side lost their Premier League game away to Sheffield United last Monday before they threw away a two-goal lead at home to Crystal Palace yesterday.
The loss to the Blades was just a second defeat of the season across all competitions for the Gunners, but Emery’s pragmatic approach to games has seen some supporters turn against him.
The 47-year-old came up painfully short of securing a return to the Champions League at the end of his first season and they are currently fifth in the Premier League, four points off fourth-placed Chelsea.
Following their disappointing draw against Palace, The Athletic says Emery was the ‘unanimous choice’ when the Arsenal board selected him as Wenger’s successor last year.
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The report adds that he was one of eight candidates with the others being ‘Massimiliano Allegri, Mikel Arteta, Thierry Henry, Julen Lopetegui, Ralf Rangnick, Jorge Sampaoli and Patrick Vieira.’
The Athletic continued: ‘Arsenal additionally discussed Antonio Conte, Eddie Howe, Maurizio Sarri and Brendan Rodgers — but for differing reasons they were not pursued, while Luis Enrique was never an option.’