Theo Walcott explains why ‘incredible’ man was destined to fail at Arsenal, he’s sent Liverpool big warning

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Former Arsenal star Theo Walcott has now opened up on the difficulties his old club faced when replacing the legendary Arsene Wenger.

Walcott departed Arsenal in January 2018, during a period of significant change for Arsenal, and Wenger announced his intention to exit the club just three months later.

In two transfer windows in 2018, long-serving players in Walcott, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Olivier Giroud, amongst others, departed, with Wenger leaving and Kroenke Sports and Entertainment acquiring full ownership of the club.

Unai Emery was hired as manager, but the former Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain boss proved to be a disaster as he was dismissed 18 months later.

Walcott has now explained the difficulties Emery faced, and pointed out that Liverpool could now face similar issues as Arne Slot replaces Jurgen Klopp.

Theo Walcott says Unai Emery had impossible task at Arsenal

Speaking via Hayters TV, Walcott claimed that despite Emery’s qualities as a manager, replacing Wenger was a difficult task.

“I think it’s very clear to see the fact where we look at other clubs in the league that are going through difficult transitions, which Arsenal did go through, when trying to get the balance of ‘who’s going to take over next,’ and it’s like Liverpool right now,” he stated.

“Obviously Arne Slot is coming in. It’s hard to be that guy after Klopp right, so that’s what happened with Arsenal. We had an incredible manager – look at Emery right now – but it’s just the timing, and it always takes time to go through some big changes”

Unai Emery had tough task but he was not the right fit for Arsenal

Emery was a disaster at Arsenal even if his task was difficult. Wenger’s squad had finished sixth, but with a strong attack and strong home record.

The manager to follow Wenger could have eased the transition by focusing on strengthening the porus defence, and following similar attacking principles in the short term at least.

Emery quickly deviated from Wenger’s style to play in a more reserved manner, whilst still struggling in defence and failed to create an identity of play. Ageing players were signed, and by the time Emery was dismissed in November 2019, his successor Mikel Arteta had an even bigger clean up job on his hands.

• READ MORE: Arsenal’s XI for Mikel Arteta’s first match as manager

Arteta is now succeeding with Arsenal, and even if Emery’s timing was unfortunate, the underdog mentality his other sides have succeeded with were just not suited to Arsenal.