UNAI EMERY has admitted missing out on Fabinho – as the Arsenal boss begins to sounds like Arsene Wenger.
Emery insists the Gunners are better since he replaced Wenger – yet just like the Frenchman before, he is now bemoaning his failure to make key signings.
Brazil midfielder Fabinho was one of the first targets for Unai Emery when he took over Arsenal in May 2018
Former PSG manager Emery says Monaco midfielder Fabinho was one of his top targets when he arrived at the Emirates in May 2018, only for the Brazil ace to join Liverpool.
But Emery now believes Fabinho cam inspire his on-loan Real Madrid playmaker Dani Ceballos and 72million record buy Nicolas Pepe.
Fabinho is finally shining for Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League leaders, whose 100 per-cent record was only ended by Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Manchester United.
And Emery believes Pepe, in particular, will look a completely different player once the ex-Lille winger is settled into English football.
Ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League home clash with Portuguese side Vitoria, Emery said: “Pepe needs time to adapt to the Premier League.
“For example, in France I love a lot Fabinho. He was in Monaco and I wanted to sign for PSG. When I arrived here, also his name was on the table to achieve to sign him, but he signed for Liverpool.
The first six months he didnt play, it was adaptation.
“But now he is amazing and I want the same with Ceballos, with Pepe.
“We need patience, but Pepe is improving, but on Monday [the 1-0 loss at Sheffield United], the key to win was with him. If he scores the first goal, its different.
“But its one process and I believe in him and I know we need time and patience.”
Emery had already told Gunners’ fans his side are on a higher level than in the closing stages of the Wenger reign.
He said: We need to remember what things were like when I arrived here because some people seem to have forgotten.
I was in my office looking at the picture of last seasons squad and now we have ten different players. Thats 40 per cent of the squad.
We are in the process with young players and we need to show patience.”
Such pleas, though, are reminiscent of Wenger, who famously missed a whole squad of world-class recruits, includign Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth bale, Didier Drogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
