With new manager Unai Emery now in place as the new Arsenal manager at The Emirates, there is growing speculation that he could be planning a triple lightning strike by pouncing on three of his former players at Paris St-Germain.

After a couple of difficult years, especially for the Gooners – the loyal Arsenal fans – it is essential that Unai Emery hits the ground running, and rumour has it that he could start the ball rolling by luring three players away from PSG. The players are Julian Draxler, Adrien Rabiot and Kevin Trapp.

Of these three players, Draxler has been on Arsenal’s wanted list long before Emery was a contemplated as Arsene Wenger’s replacement. While from the players’ point of view he would likely get more first team football at Arsenal, he certainly won’t come cheap.

As for the other two, Adrien Rabiot would provide some desperately needed quality to Arsenal’s midfield, and it is thought that his recent omission from France’s World Cup squad for Russia, could tempt him to make the move.

As far as Kevin Trapp is concerned, he is not getting enough first team football at PSG, as Alphonse Areola is preferred before him. It is highly likely that he would relish the chance to be able to establish himself as a regular with a top club like The Gunners.

But although Emery is not likely to be starved of cash to buy the players he seeks, the absence of the chance for Champions League football in the coming season could well prove an obstacle for many players. It will be the new manager’s job to persuade his targets that under his leadership, a return to the highest levels of European football is assured, and who’s to say he won’t be able to.

Emery’s credentials couldn’t be better. The 46-year-old Spaniard comes to The Emirates having done a clean sweep across the board with Paris St-Germain.

When he first took up his managerial role with PSG in 2016, the club won the Coupe de France, the Coupe de La Ligue and the Trophee des Champions. If that wasn’t enough, in his second year in charge, he won all four French domestic trophies including topping the final Ligue 1 table.

Prior to joining PSG, he managed Spanish club Seville, leading them to three successive Europa League titles and ending-up as being runners up to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey.

For those doubting-Thomases who wondered whether or not his English would be good enough to communicate with players and other aficionados of the game, he laid those fears to rest with an impressive press interview, conducted entirely in English. He only reverted to a little Spanish upon the request of some foreign press members.

With the wholesale changes that are envisaged by many in the playing staff at The Emirates, it will be important to hold on to one or two wiser heads who have the necessary skill and experience to gel the players together; players like Jack Wilshere, spoken highly of by former Gooners’ favourite Perry Groves, and Aaron Ramsay. It’s an opinion shared by another old Arsenal, favourite, Martin Keown.