Former Arsenal midfielder Denis Suarez has said Unai Emery was not treated fairly during his time as manager at the north London club.
Suarez recently declared how he feels sorry for criticism aimed at Emery, now at Aston Villa, over his signing having rejected other players in favour of him.
“Unai is a top coach and I think he was treated very unfairly at Arsenal,” Suarez told The Athletic (via talkSPORT).
“He took over from Wenger, who had been there for so many years. People were not as patient with him as they had been with Wenger in certain moments.
“When you change a coach that has been there for so long, you look for a new identity. I think Unai was creating one at the club.
“It was a period of transition, both in the playing squad and the infrastructure. The process takes time. Unai took them to a Europa League final and finished in the top five, but they didn’t let him finish the job.
“It’s true that Arsenal are doing very well under Arteta, but it could have been the same with Unai.”
Suarez has remained in Spain since leaving Arsenal, first joining Celta Vigo on a permanent deal before linking up with Espanyol on loan and then onto Villarreal.
Discussing his brief time at Arsenal which was unimpressive, Suarez said: “It was such a shame, honestly.I arrived at Arsenal and had physical problems.
“I wasn’t able to reach my normal level, no matter how much I tried. It would have been different if I had been fit and able to compete, but it just didn’t work out.
“I thought the club was fantastic. It’s a privilege to be able to say that I played for Arsenal, one of the greatest clubs in the world.
“It was disappointing for me, but also for Unai.
“I know he was criticised for signing me, because he requested me and rejected other options because he knew me.”
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