The Unai Emery era is upon us and the Spaniard is evidently hell-bent on revamping the Arsenal squad. Improving the current personnel as well, the 46-year-old will seek to bring in several reinforcements. According to reports, Emery has spoken with Arsène Wenger about areas of the squad that need improvement. It will now be Sven Mislintat’s job to scout those players while Raul Sanllehi will be tasked with negotiating those deals.
Here are three players that could be Unai Emery’s first three signings as Arsenal manager.
3Adrien Rabiot (DM)
Powerful, disciplined and controlling? All attributes that don’t describe Granit Xhaka, but Adrien Rabiot instead. At the base of a midfield, Rabiot has the ability to set the tempo of his team’s passing play, thus dictating the game. His 6’3” frame presents him as a perfect fit for the Premier League. Arsenal is often lambasted for their lack of physical presence in the middle of the pitch, Rabiot would solve that problem as well as continue Arsenal’s tradition of dominating possession.
The Frenchman’s snub from the national team has only further forced Rabiot to re-consider his career prospects. Rabiot was primed as Thiago Motta’s successor, but at the Emirates, he could truly fulfil his potential. In today’s market, Rabiot would command a price tag in the region of £30-£40million, a small price to pay to bring back Arsenal’s glory days.
