Arsenal name Unai Emery to succeed Arsene Wenger

Unai Emery replaces the legendary Arsene Wenger

He has signed a 4-year contract with an estimated £6 Million salary

Emery will build the squad around two important players

Premier League giants Arsenal have officially announced the arrival of Unai Emery as the new successor to former legendary manager Arsene Wenger.

Emery's appointment has seen him beat off competition from the likes of former Arsenal players Mikel Arteta, Patrick Viera, and Thierry Henry. 

The 46-year-old Spaniard comes with a terrific CV with his most recent capture of the Ligue 1 title along with four domestic cups with French giants PSG. He also had a fantastic 74% win percentage at his time with the club. 

He has also won the Europa League three times as manager of Sevilla, a competition that Arsenal failed to win last season and take part in the coming season. He has also managed Spanish clubs Almeria and Valencia.

Emery arrives with great experience at a young age and a hunger to win titles with his new club with his main aim to continue bringing success to his club as his predecessor did.

What are Emery's biggest challenges ahead?

After finishing a disappointing 6th place, Arsenal won't be playing Champions League football for the second successive season and Emery may have a tough job on his hand. 

Arriving in his maiden PL season, he needs to quickly adapt to the intensity and playing style that the league offers and avoid making too many stumbles down the road.

Also, he will have to sort out the issues that the current Arsenal squad possesses and rebuild the side's defensive unit who kept 13 clean sheets last season.

Arsenal also had a horrendous Away League campaign last season, picking up just 4-wins all season in 19 games which need to improve under his tutoring.

The two players Emery will build the squad around

Upon his arrival, Emery named two Arsenal players who are set to have their biggest and most important season ahead and with the abilities that they possess will build the team around them.

Aaron Ramsey

The 27-year old Welsh midfielder has been among Arsenal's longest-serving players and now the new manager sees him as an integral part of the squad. In his 331 appearances for the club in all comps. he has scored 59 times and created a further 57. 

Ramsey has struggled with terrible injuries in the past but now looks like he is approaching at his peak leading the Arsenal midfield. With his box-to-box abilities, he can feature either in a midfield two or a midfield three. 

What he requires are runners who are willing to get past the opposition players and make dangerous runs into the box for him to play the perfect pass and conversely to receive crosses in the box to strike on goal. One player could help solve that problem.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

A £55 Million addition last winter, the 28-year old was Arsene Wenger's last and perhaps his best signing in recent years. In his maiden PL season, he scored 10 goals in 13 games which is spectacular.

There is no doubt that he possesses all attributes that a No.9 needs to thrive in front of goal. With his pace, vision, dribbling ability and threat on goal, he could easily become the league's highest goal scorer this coming season.

The new manager also loves to have such a striker upfront and will make sure that he can bring in all the support required to help him score goals and get wins for his club.

Where does he need strengthening?

Goalkeeper:

Emery needs to bring in a new goalkeeper to take over from Petr Cech with Stoke City's Jack Butland 25, a perfect fit. 

Other viable options include Gianluigi Donnarumma 19, Bernd Leno 26, and Nick Pope 26.

Center Backs:

Neither of the Centre backs put in a dominant display all season and the club still lack that elusive central defensive partnership.

There are rumors surrounding a deal for Borussia Dortmund defender Sokratis 29, which would add solidarity to the leaky Arsenal defense.

Emery should also target a young center back, preferably left-footed to partner Sokratis with potential targets including Prensel Kimpembe 22, Alessio Romagnoli 23, Clement Lenglet 22, or, Giorgio Chiellini 33, with the latter's contract expiring.

Fullbacks:

The Right-back slot is fine with Hector Bellerin set to thrive under his new manager. At left back, however, competition is needed for Sead Kolasinac and Nacho Monreal.

Emery could target Southampton's Ryan Bertrand 28, Manchester United's Luke Shaw 22, or Barcelona's Lucas Digne 24.

Defensive Midfield: 

Another major position that Emery needs to assess is holding midfield and needs to sign a replacement ASAP. Granit Xhaka 25, by no means, is a holding midfielder and Mohamed Elneny 25, isn't consistent in that role.

If Emery strengthens the holding midfield position, he will be able to get the best out of Aaron Ramsey. He could look at Monaco's Fabinho 24, Steven N'zonzi 29, Napoli's Jorginho 26 or Amadou Diawara 20.

Wingers:

Emery prefers playing a 4-3-3 formation so it is still unclear whether he would adapt to moving to a 4-2-3-1 formation to get the best out of Mesut Ozil 29, and also Henrikh Mkhitaryan 29. There is still no assurance how much of a role Alexandre Lacazette 26, will be playing.

He needs to bring in wingers on either side with Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez 27, and Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey 20, both looking great options.

Other popular options include Thomas Lemar 22, Julian Draxler 24, Ivan Perisic 29, Malcolm 21, Gelson Martins 23, Cengiz Under 20, and Xherdan Shaqiri 26.

Unai Emery is Arsenal's go-to man this season and can achieve great things with his new side. He needs to be ready for the challenge that the "greatest football league in the world" will bring. 

He will be challenging for the league this season but will find it difficult to win the competition. The last manager to win the league in his debut season was Antonio Conte but Emery should also look to win the Europa League campaign this season.

If he does succeed, he can once again make Arsenal "The Invincibles" they once were in their title-winning PL campaigns.

Emery's potential Arsenal XI