Mark Lawrenson sends patient message to Arsenal fans about Unai Emery
The Liverpool FC legend believes Arsenal need to be patient with new manager Unai Emery
Mark Lawrenson has warned Arsenal supporters that Unai Emery will require time to revamp the Gunners squad.
The north London side finished in sixth spot in the Premier League table last season to culminate in Arsene Wenger’s exit at the end of the 2017-18 campaign.
The Gunners appointed former Paris Saint-Germain and Sevilla manager as Wenger’s replacement to undergo a change of management for the first time in 22 seasons.
Arsenal signed five players in the summer transfer window as Emery looked to leave his stamp on the north London side ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
The Gunners brought in Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner, Borussia Dortmund centre-half Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno, Sampdoria midfielder Lucas Torreira and Lorient teenager Matteo Guendouzi.
Former Liverpool FC defender Lawrenson believes the Gunners manager will need time to implement his ideas and changes at the Emirates Stadium in the new campaign.
“Arsenal coach Unai Emery is going to need a lot of time to work out the Premier League and work out his best team,” Lawrenson told BBC Sport.
“Emery tried to use Petr Cech to play out from the back against Manchester City and it did not work – he did not look comfortable.
“You are not going to change a 36-year-old goalkeeper’s game in that way, so I wonder if summer signing Bernd Leno will come in on Saturday.”
Arsenal haven’t finished in the Champions League spots in the last two seasons to regress under Wenger.
The Gunners lost 2-0 to defending champions Manchester City in their opening Premier League clash of the 2018-19 season.
Arsenal haven’t won the Premier League title since 2003-04 when the Gunners finished the campaign without a loss.
