Robert Pires tells Arsenal they made Unai Emery error - and Lionel Messi is the proof
Arsenal legend Robert Pires has insisted that the Gunners made a mistake by giving Unai Emery the boot after he inspired Villarreal to a stunning win over Bayern Munich
Robert Pires has insisted Arsenal made a mistake by giving Unai Emery the boot after he masterminded Villarreal's 1-0 triumph over Bayern Munich in midweek - and he used Lionel Messi as an example of people needing time to adapt to a new league.
Emery is considered to have flopped in England after he was axed by the Gunners after just one full season at the helm. Despite being given the boot just three months into his second year in north London, Emery guided Arsenal to their best league position in four years after finishing fifth in the Premier League.
But the Spaniard has rebuilt his reputation in Spain with Villarreal, who stunned Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night. And in the wake of the Yellow Submarine's famous victory, Pires has suggested that Arsenal chief Stan Kroenke made a rash decision in giving Emery the elbow.
LaLiga ambassador Pires, speaking on behalf of LiveScore, said: “It’s impossible to compare Emery and Arsene Wenger in their times at Arsenal. But the owner could have given him more time. It was difficult for him, especially with the language. I thought he did a good job at the time. Unfortunately for him and Arsenal they lost the 2019 Europa League final to Chelsea in Baku. The pressure on the manager is hard."
Pires pointed to Messi's struggles in Ligue 1 as a prime example of why people should be given time to adapt. The Argentine icon has struggled somewhat since joining PSG from Barcelona. The 34-year-old has managed just three goals in 19 league games and was jeered by fed-up PSG fans last month after they were dumped out of the Champions League by Real Madrid.
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Pires added: “Managers and players need time. When you change country, you change everything. I understand football, it’s international, but it’s not the same, country to country. Every country has a specific way of playing its football. That’s why sometimes for a manager or a player, the time to adapt can be longer.
“Can you imagine we talk about Lionel Messi, one of the best players in the world and look what’s happened with his move to PSG in France. I repeat, it takes time to adapt. Even for Messi it has been difficult because Ligue 1 is more physical than LaLiga.”
And Pires backed Emery to achieve greatness with Villarreal, adding "I love Emery because I love his philosophy about football. He’s always attacking, attacking and trying to play great football. So the next step for Villarreal in LaLiga is to reach the Champions League positions. I believe in him and Villarreal."
LaLiga ambassador Robert Pires was speaking at an event for LiveScore, Official Global Scoring Partner of LaLiga Santander. To read the full article, visit LiveScore’s News section here.