Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

[sohi420]

The Gunners have made a first managerial change in 22 years, with those inside and outside Emirates Stadium aware that the time had come for change

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has admitted that Arsenal “stagnated” towards the end of Arsene Wenger’s reign, with all concerned now looking forward to a fresh start under Unai Emery.

After 22 years of stability and continuity in north London, the managerial baton at Emirates Stadium has changed hands this summer.

Former Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain boss Emery has been appointed as Wenger’s successor and charged with the task of returning Arsenal to the Champions League and getting them back on the trophy trail.

He has some big shoes to fill, but recent regression suggests that change was required.

Record signing Aubameyang admits as much, telling RMC on the movement in the dugout: "I think it's a little bit of a mixed feeling in fact.

"On one hand, it's strange for all the fans that the coach has left. But it's definitely a fresh start.

"Since over the last few seasons - you have to tell the truth - the club has stagnated a little bit, I think everyone is actually a little bit excited to see what happens next season.

"It is strange that the coach has left after 22 years. But that's life - we have to look forward.

“It's going to be a new start so we'll have so we'll have to see how it goes... everyone will have to get it into their heads that we have to work hard to rival the best.”

Aubameyang added on the arrival of Emery: "He's a really good coach.

"In Paris, it's never very easy. There's a huge amount of pressure... I know he did really good work with Sevilla and with PSG too."

It remains to be seen what role Aubameyang will be asked to fill by Emery, but the Gabonese forward – who netted 10 Premier League goals in 13 appearances following a mid-season arrival in 2017-18 – is hoping to be used in a favoured position down the middle, preferably with a strike partner alongside him.

He added: "I think everybody knows that I like playing through the centre.

“I hope that we can play with two attackers - that would be ideal. But if the new coach needs me on the wing, there's no problem."

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/arsenal- ... ydomxgk5h5

Good to see a current player tell it like it was

More importantly, him and Laca have to start together upfront

Finally someone calling it how it is. None of our players have had the balls to call out Wenger until now

[theHotHead]

Finally someone calling it how it is. None of our players have had the balls to call out Wenger until now

To be fair, if you do that normally you get your P45, he most likely would not have said anything had Wenger still been the boss.

[Sims]

Imagine thinking he was slating Wenger good grief

[theHotHead]

Since over the last few seasons - you have to tell the truth - the club has stagnated a little bit, I think everyone is actually a little bit excited to see what happens next season.

How else can one take this ? It's not slating but it is an indirect criticism.

[Sims]

It’s an indirect criticism of the whole club, not a swipe at one man

Unless of course you thought Arsene was bigger than the club

[Mess]

He was bigger than the club (and was viewed as such by a couple of people here). Finally, we can move forward as a club with a normal structure that don't rely on a single man.

[ag6789]

Think he should just concentrate on his job and not be distracted by side issues. Long way to go at AFC for him.

[StLGooner]

It’s an indirect criticism of the whole club, not a swipe at one man

Unless of course you thought Arsene was bigger than the club

The media is always going to spin it like it was a shot at Wenger, and the sheep will always believe it.

[theHotHead]

It’s an indirect criticism of the whole club, not a swipe at one man

Unless of course you thought Arsene was bigger than the club

We can't have it both ways !! Either Wenger was to blame for our poor performances (tactics and prep), poor state of medical rehabilitation, poor purchases, scouting, lack of defensive coaching etc etc, the very things we complained Wenger was either bad at or too controlling over, or he wasn't.

We all said he had too much control at the club, one of the big criticisms. How are you going to now come and say he didn't have too much control ? Why were we all (including you) complaining that he was behaving like a dictator and won't relinquish full control to and let others help ?

The reason we are in decline is because of Wenger only, performances on the pitch are down to Wenger and Wenger's vision, nobody else.

[Ach]

Whether it was a dig or not, point is it's good to hear a player say stuff like that

[Marsbar100]

In a polite way he was saying wenger was shit

[Zedie]

It’s an indirect criticism of the whole club, not a swipe at one man

Unless of course you thought Arsene was bigger than the club

We can't have it both ways !! Either Wenger was to blame for our poor performances (tactics and prep), poor state of medical rehabilitation, poor purchases, scouting, lack of defensive coaching etc etc, the very things we complained Wenger was either bad at or too controlling over, or he wasn't.

We all said he had too much control at the club, one of the big criticisms. How are you going to now come and say he didn't have too much control ? Why were we all (including you) complaining that he was behaving like a dictator and won't relinquish full control to and let others help ?

The reason we are in decline is because of Wenger only, performances on the pitch are down to Wenger and Wenger's vision, nobody else.

Bollocks was it.

It was kronkes fault for persisting with the sustainable model when ffp was a busted flush.

Kronke and the boards fault for not having the restructure in place in time, meaning they still needed Wenger to have a hand in all pies until this season.

Kronke and the boards fault for not having the balls to shift Wenger earlier

The boards fault for never replacing the Dein role all those years.

If it all goes tits up with emery or anyone else, some people will be still out here blaming emery for everything while they fail to hold the actual businessmen who make the decisions for the club responsible.

Wengers not responsible for the 50m budget we are walking into the summer with right now and he's never been able to set how much budget we have to spend per window.

Same applied for the last 22 years.

[DiamondGooner]

BS.

Firstly ......... is he lying?

No, so its true then isn't it, in fact he's being diplomatic, we weren't stagnating, we were regressing.

If we were only stagnating Wenger would still have his job.

[Fenice]

DG has it. Even sub choices, which is where a manager can personally make or break a game, he’s gotten wrong for how long?

[CaptGooner]

DG has it. Even sub choices, which is where a manager can personally make or break a game, he’s gotten wrong for how long?

Think most can agree that board/owner have been pathetic to say the least.. but Wenger clearly has had the most influence in our player’s performances (comes with manager/coach title).

We have underperformed with the talent we have had the past few years (even though the board could have helped get us more).