What Unai Emery did in 2019 started Arsenal’s resurgence before Mikel Arteta even arrived

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Unai Emery’s time at Arsenal was full of highs and lows, with the manager leaving after just 18 months in charge.

It was never going to be easy for a manager to arrive at the Emirates following Arsene Wenger’s departure.

Emery was appointed as the man to take the reins from the Arsenal legend, and for the most part, the Spaniard impressed.

The now Aston Villa manager had his fair share of highs and lows in North London, and while the Gunners haven’t looked back since his dismissal, there’s one positive that Mikel Arteta is still benefiting from thanks to his predecessor.

• READ MORE: The manager Ian Wright wanted at Arsenal before Unai Emery proves that he was ahead of the curve

Unai Emery started Arsenal’s resurgence by signing William Saliba

A lot has changed at Arsenal since Arteta took charge, the most prominent being the Gunners’ shift from top-four challengers to title contenders.

The 2022/23 season was the turning point for the North Londoners, as the manager seemed to have cracked the code to get his squad in order to fight for the top spot.

One of the biggest changes was the focus on the defence, as Arsenal went from being sometimes flimsy to reliable, with William Saliba to thank for that.

Emery batted away competition to sign Saliba in 2019, loaning the player back to Saint-Etienne, which was the first of the Frenchman’s three loan spells after joining Arsenal.

It wasn’t until 2022 that Saliba was given the chance to become a regular in Arteta’s side, and it’s fair to say that the squad haven’t looked back.

Not looking back is an understatement, as it’s difficult to imagine how Arsenal would cope without their star central defender, who is undoubtedly one of the world’s best.

Arsenal’s record without Saliba tells the story of his importance to Arteta’s back four, with his partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes one of the catalysts behind the Gunners’ ability to become title challengers.

Arteta had a lot to resolve when Emery left, but if there’s one thing the Spaniard can thank his countryman for, it’s delivering Saliba to N5.

What Unai Emery said about William Saliba when he signed for Arsenal

Signed for just £27m as an 18-year-old prospect, Emery struck gold by capturing Saliba’s signature in 2019.

Now a regular in the French national team and sporting a market value of €80m, as per Transfermarkt, the investment Emery made is looking to be one that is shaping Arsenal’s future.

Admittedly, it could be said that the former Arsenal manager knew this at the point of welcoming the Frenchman to the club.

Upon Saliba’s unveiling, Emery described the centre-back as a player who was eager to be part of the club’s future.

“We’re delighted William is joining us. Many teams wanted him, but he decided he wanted to come to us and be part of our future.

“He will stay in France next season for more experience, and then we look forward to him joining our group.”

Emery was long gone before Saliba had the chance to make a name for himself at Arsenal, but the Gunners will forever be in debt to the former boss as the defender continues to improve.