ARSENAL boss Unai Emery has been told to reunite with PSG midfielder Marco Verratti at the Emirates.
ARSENAL boss Unai Emery has been told to reunite with PSG midfielder Marco Verratti at the Emirates.
Arsenal unveiled Emery as their successor to Arsene Wenger yesterday, with the Spaniard now challenging a crack at the Premier League title.
The Gunners head coach is charged with the task of rebuilding the north London side, who are no longer the swashbuckling side they used to be.
On his Arsenal priority list will be sorting out the club’s midfield.
Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey’s futures are both far from certain, while Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny are not up to scratch.
PSG star Verratti has been tipped to leave the Parc des Princes with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United previously linked.
But former Arsenal star Martin Keown thinks Verratti would be an essential signing for his old team.
“To expect that Emery will transform this team into champions overnight is unrealistic,” he told the Daily Mail.
“Arsenal has been run Arsene Wenger's way for 22 years and, given the sheer spending power of the Manchester clubs, the competition is fierce.
“Emery inherits a side that can do damage in the final third but lacks a steeliness and a nastiness, particularly away from home.
“If he can restore these ingredients, then Arsenal can at least challenge in the Premier League.
“The fans want to see a team that can dig in, battle and scrap. Emery needs to bring in a player like Marco Verratti, who he managed at Paris Saint-Germain, to instil those qualities in midfield.
“You cannot fault Emery's credentials.
“He has just won the French domestic Treble and it is only PSG's relentless quest for greatness that has seen him lose his job.”
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