Thierry Henry believes Arsenal made a crucial error by appointing Mikel Arteta as head coach in 2019, replacing Unai Emery. According to Henry, Emery could have achieved significant success at Arsenal if he had been given more time. Emery, who succeeded Arsène Wenger in 2018 following his 22-year tenure, was dismissed after just 18 months. Since then, Arteta has transformed Arsenal into genuine Premier League title contenders, but Henry remains convinced that Emery had the potential to guide the team to similar heights.
After leaving Arsenal, Emery went on to demonstrate his managerial prowess, winning the Europa League with Villarreal and leading Aston Villa to a spot in the Champions League. Speaking to CBS Sports ahead of Aston Villa’s 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich, Henry praised Emery’s tactical brilliance. He described the Spanish coach as a “tactical genius,” highlighting his consistent ability to give his teams a strategic edge. “We all know about his achievements in Spain, particularly his Europa League triumphs with Sevilla and Villarreal,” Henry stated. “I mean no disrespect to Arteta—he’s done an incredible job with Arsenal—but I genuinely believe that if we had kept Unai a little longer, he would have delivered success.”
Henry pointed to Emery’s accomplishments after leaving Arsenal as evidence of his managerial quality. “He proved what he’s capable of right after his departure. I have immense respect for him,” Henry said. His remarks emphasize that Emery’s departure from Arsenal was premature, considering his ability to excel in challenging environments.
Former Liverpool defender and fellow pundit Jamie Carragher supported Henry’s assessment, calling Emery one of Europe’s elite coaches. “He’s fantastic, undoubtedly one of the top coaches in European football,” Carragher said. “What he’s achieved in the Europa League with Sevilla and Villarreal is extraordinary. In the Premier League, Guardiola is the best, but Emery is right up there.”
Under Emery’s guidance, Aston Villa has flourished. Their recent Champions League victory against Young Boys and the 1-0 win over Bayern Munich at Villa Park have established them as serious European contenders. Jhon Duran’s late goal in the Bayern game not only secured a memorable win but also reinforced Emery’s growing reputation.
Henry’s comments underline his belief that Arsenal should have shown more patience with Emery. While Arteta’s success cannot be denied, Henry argues that Emery’s proven track record of achieving success in both domestic and European competitions demonstrates what Arsenal may have missed out on by parting ways with him too soon.
