Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has claimed Unai Emery was the stand-out candidate in a search that saw them interview EIGHT managers for the job.

Emery has the unenviable task of replacing long-serving Frenchman Arsene Wenger, but Gazidis is confident they have the right man for the job.

He told a press conference: ‘We had some clear criteria we were looking for. We wanted progessive, entertaining football.

‘A personality to fit Arsenal values and a reputation for developing players. And also through cultural demands, demanding more from them.

‘His teams improve over time. We also felt for some time that he is a superb fit with the criteria I laid out. He came in extraordinarily well-prepared with a detailed knowledge of Arsenal football club.

‘He had an analysis to share with us, not just his ways of working, his ways of coaching, the team of people that he works with, but he had an analysis of all of our individual players – their qualities and how he believes he can help them develop individually and collectively – and also an in-depth analysis of our off-the-field team and how they can contribute.

‘The thing that distinguished Unai was the chemistry between us. He has an energy, a competitive energy, and will to win that made us think this was a perfect fit for Arsenal.’

Unai Emery Honors

Sevilla

• Europa League (x3): 2014, 2015, 2016

Paris Saint-Germain

• Ligue 1: 2017-18
• French Cup (x2): 2017, 2018
• French League Cup (x2): 2017, 2018
• French Super Cup (x2): 2016, 2017