‘The owner’: Robert Pires thinks Stan Kroenke has made a mistake at Arsenal

Thu 7 April 2022 19:15, UK

Arsenal legend Robert Pires believes Gunners owner Stan Kroenke made a mistake in not giving Unai Emery more time.

The Highbury icon was speaking on behalf of after Emery’s Villarreal beat Bayern Munich in midweek.

Arsenal appointed Emery as Arsene Wenger’s successor in May 2018.

The Spaniard led the Gunners to the Europa League final, where they lost 4-1 to Chelsea.

However, Arsenal then sacked Emery in November 2019 after the club’s worst run of results since 1992.

The Gunners appointed Mikel Arteta the following month, while Emery joined Villarreal the following summer.

“I thought he did a good job at the time”

Emery has rebuilt his reputation in Spain with Villarreal, beating Arsenal en route to the Europa League trophy in 2021.

And this week, the Yellow Submarine stunned Bayern in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.

In wake of their famous victory, Pires suggested Kroenke made a rash decision in sacking Emery so soon.

“It’s impossible to compare Emery and Arsene Wenger in their times at Arsenal.

“But the owner could have given him more time. It was difficult for him, especially with the language.

“I thought he did a good job at the time.

“Unfortunately for him and Arsenal they lost the 2019 Europa League final to Chelsea in Baku.

“The pressure on the manager is hard.”

Pires then pointed to Messi’s struggles in Ligue 1 as an example of why people should be given time to adapt.

The Argentina talisman has struggled somewhat since joining PSG from Barcelona.

Messi has managed just three goals in 19 league games.

And some PSG fans jeered last month after Real Madrid knocked them out of the Champions League.

“Managers and players need time,” continued Pires.

“When you change country, you change everything.

“I understand football, it’s international, but it’s not the same, country to country.

“Every country has a specific way of playing its football.

“That’s why sometimes for a manager or a player, the time to adapt can be longer.

“Can you imagine we talk about Lionel Messi, one of the best players in the world.

“And look what’s happened with his move to PSG in France.

“I repeat, it takes time to adapt. Even for Messi it has been difficult because Ligue 1 is more physical than La Liga.”