A lot has changed since Robert Pires was giving right-backs nightmares at Highbury
Over the course of the past decade or so, Arsenal have managed to stay competitive at the top end of the Premier League despite various financial obstacles and growing competition from their rivals. In the past three seasons they have finished 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th respectively.
But the wider discourse around the club points to a more chaotic period. Arsenal are often the butt of the joke on social media nowadays, mocked for a lack of silverware, their failure to reach the latter stages of the Champions League (or even qualify), along with some questionable transfer business.
Despite these criticisms, in the grand scheme of football’s overall hierarchy, are things really that bad? Robert Pires doesn’t think so. Speaking exclusively to JOE, the former Gunner heaped praise on how Unai Emery has handled the responsibility of taking over from Arsène Wenger at an important juncture in the club’s history.
“I think since the beginning, he’s done well. It was very difficult for him because a lot of people, fans, media, they compared him to Wenger,” says Pires.
“I think he’s put something new in the dressing room – he’s more strict. Of course, it’s totally different for the players, but he’s put in good rules for the team, and it’s good because he has kept the same Arsenal philosophy.”
Citing Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Manchester United before the international break, Pires believes Emery is proving himself to be the right man for the job.
“He wants to play good football. When he managed Sevilla or Paris Saint-Germain, it was the same. For the moment, he’s a great manager, especially after the win against Man United at home. So I hope the fans are happy with Unai.”
It hasn’t all been plain sailing for Emery. The Spaniard has had to content with internal political battles and the dilemma of fitting the club’s highest-paid player, Mesut Özil into his starting XI. Pires believes the playmaker is a vital part of the squad, labelling him a ‘magician’, and is encouraged by the way Emery has handled the situation.
“It’s better now,” he says. “He hasn’t started many games because he’s been injured with a small back problem. But now, the most important thing is to see Mesut in the line-up.
“He’s very clever, he can make good assists and sometimes he can score. For me, he’s like Dennis Bergkamp, he’s a magician, a maestro. Of course, he’s not a warrior, like Dennis… or like me. But in the team, you need everything. And when you have Mesut, he’s important.”
The signing of Özil in 2013 was one that helped keep an increasingly frustrated fanbase on the side of Arsène Wenger, who stepped down last year after 22 years as Arsenal boss.
His departure came following years of division among fans. It was a divide that had grown so toxic that there were occasionally even physical altercations between ‘Wenger In’ and ‘Wenger Out’ advocates. For Pires, who won two league titles and two FA Cups under Wenger, it was sad to see the tide turn against his former mentor.
“Yeah, for me, I was a little bit disappointed because I watched the split… it was ‘Wenger in’ or ‘Wenger out’. I think you need to respect the person and the manager, because for example, for Arsène, when he starts a season, the first objective for him is to win the Premier League trophy. But we are in England, and believe me, it’s very difficult to lift this trophy.”
Pires is sympathetic to the difficulty that Wenger encountered when making his decision to step aside, knowing that he was ‘in love’ with the club.
“You know, it’s a hard question. I think it’s better if you ask him. I love Arsène, you know? When I signed for Arsenal I was very happy, because I talked with him. I played six seasons with him, I worked with him. We won some titles.
“He’s a great manager, a great person. For me, he was in love with Arsenal. When he decided to say ‘No, I’m retiring’, maybe it was because he was tired. It’s long, 22 years with the same club. It’s a great job, he was doing well, but for him it was so difficult especially with the pressure.”
Looking to the future, Pires remains optimistic, citing’s Tottenham’s recent drop in form in the league as an example of its unpredictability. Consistency is the key, he explains.
“The gap between City and Liverpool [and the rest] is huge,” he says.
“But if you want to win the title, you need to be more consistent, so you need to win games home and away. Unfortunately Arsenal are not in this position. At home, we play well, but away we lost some very important points.
“But look, we are just behind Tottenham,” he says with a gleeful chuckle.
“So that’s why now I’m positive – well, I’m always positive – but I think we can finish in the top three. This target is very exciting for Arsenal and of course for the players.”
Robert Pires is working with UEFA Europa League partner Enterprise Rent-A-Car on their Legendary Journeys campaign. To discover more and to enjoy special rates across Europe, visit www.enterprise.co.uk/UEL
