Ian Wright slams ‘delusional’ Unai Emery in lengthy rant over Arsenal comments

Ian Wright has dubbed Unai Emery ‘delusional’ after the axed Arsenal boss claimed the club had been on a downward slope until he arrived and arrested their slide.

The Spanish coach was sacked at the end of November after a seven-game winless run, with the club eight points adrift of the top four places and closer to the relegation zone, with Mikel Arteta appointed as his successor the following month.

Arteta’s arrival has prompted an improvement, with Arsenal unbeaten in their last seven games, though they remain 10 points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea.

Emery gave an interview with France Football this week in which he criticised the attitude of the Arsenal squad and took pride in achievements such as ‘only finishing one point off Tottenham’.

Wright was understandably unhappy with the comments and suggested Emery was just trying to get attention as he looks for a new job.

Speaking about the feel-god factor that has returned to Arsenal, the Gunners legend said on the Kelly & Wrighty show: ‘I was there yesterday, they were doing their press day, and you can feel it – you know what it’s like, you know when there’s a good atmosphere in and around the club. You can feel it.

‘Under the old manager it was like a regime, it wasn’t very enjoyable, they didn’t know where they were going, there wasn’t a lot of direction in what they were doing. And when you hear the quotes from Unai Emery… delusional comments if you ask me.

‘Yes [they got to Europa League final] but it was the worst performance of an Arsenal team in a final. Because again, whatever he says, the players weren’t happy, there wasn’t a vision or direction, the communication was poor.

‘He can say whatever he wants about how well he’s done because he’s got the “facts” there but that team was going nowhere. When you look at his record, for him to come out and say stuff like that…

‘This is the difference with Arsene Wenger, 21 years, he doesn’t come out and stay stuff like that. He [Emery] was coming in as the guy that was going to steer us back and everyone gave him the support.

‘He was a gentleman when he was at the club, but to hear him say those things is quite sad to see. For me, he’s probably looking for a new job, trying to put himself back out there.

‘Mikel Arteta has given Arsenal direction and focus now and that’s what he [Emery] didn’t give us.’

He added: ‘At the end of the day, I’m all about Mikel and what Mikel is trying to do because we’ve got draws, but there’s definite improvement. It’s more important to speak about Mikel than Unai now.’