Same as at any other club really; it's always the manager's job to shield the board from criticism. When chairmen begin to worry about the paintwork on their new Benz, the manager's day's are usually numbered.

Emery would certainly have been on the list, imo, for any of the top clubs, not just us. Once Wenger went, the actual job offer would've just been about timing; who is actually available at that moment.

Thinking about it, maybe Gazidis was only hired to manage some sort of transition after all and he played a long game until he accomplished that mission (which you would, I guess, if you're on that kind of money). Don't forget these people (all except Wenger apparently) are career professionals and never actually intend to stay in any one job or at any one club for more than three or four years anyway. They're like old-school civil servants; they are responsible for starting a scheme, or for finishing it, but never for both. So any blame can be shared around or avoided.


Quote Originally Posted by Alberto Balsam Rodriguez View Post
Wenger leaving was as much for his own sake as it was for change at the club. Wenger still had a reputation to preserve. Who knows, he may still have one but his last 3 seasons have caused it to take a blow and people could see this coming... and for what, to provide a smokescreen for the owner and the board? The only way this could be seen was for Wenger to leave. He just left a couple of years too late.

Now that Wenger has gone, we will be able to see what the club are all about as no one will endure what Wenger had/chose to endure. Appointing Emery was perhaps a little underwhelming for some, particularly as he probably under-achieved at PSG, but maybe a logical appointment. There had to be a mutual benefit to both. A man trying to manage his slightly dented reputation and a club that won't throw money wildly. IF Arsenal had more money, would they have hired Emery How much will Emery endure to protect this board and owner? It depends but I could argue a lot less than Wenger.

What do we know that has happened since Wenger left? Perhaps Gazidis has decided that Wenger going removes some protection, so he sounded out his availability and ran as soon as he could?

Is Emery good enough? Time will tell and it will take at least, 2 full seasons. What we will find out is how much Wenger was really protecting the owner and the board inability/unwillingness to take the club forward on the pitch and how much was his own failings.