Javi Gracia convinced me to take Arsenal job - Unai Emery

From Left: Watford Manager Javi Gracia and Arsenal Manager Unai Emery - Getty 

Unai Emery has revealed that a conversation with his Spanish compatriot and Watford manager Javi Gracia convinced him to become Arsenal’s manager last summer.


Despite leading PSG to a domestic treble in 2017-18, Emery left the Ligue 1 club at the end of the season before accepting Arsenal’s offer to replace the outgoing
Arsene Wenger.

Emery has earned plaudits for the job he has done at the Emirates, steering Arsenal into top-four contention as well as the
Europa League quarter-finals.

Emery has admitted that Gracia, who joined Watford last January following Marco Silva’s dismissal, played a key role in his move to England.

‘When the possibility opened to sign here, the first coach, the first person in the football world I called was him [Gracia],’ Emery said.

‘I asked some questions about the football here, the clubs, Arsenal, and he recommended to me that I come here.’

Arsenal beat Watford 2-0 at the Emirates earlier in the season.

Emery will be hoping for a similar outcome when Arsenal head to Vicarage Road on Monday night. Metro