Arsene Wenger believes Unai Emery wasn't given enough time at Arsenal during his short 18-month spell in charge of the Gunners.
The Spaniard replaced the outgoing Wenger in the summer of 2018 as Arsenal prepared for a different manager at the helm for the first time since 1996. It proved to be a mixed first season for Emery as the Gunners missed out on a top-four place by a point, finishing in fifth behind Tottenham Hotspur.
In the Europa League, Arsenal breezed through the group stages with ease and qualified for the last-32 in a competition Emery has craved success in the past. And he almost weaved in some more magic as he guided the Gunners all the way to the final.
But they were unable to beat Chelsea, losing 4-1 in Baku. The Gunners failed to get past the fourth round in the FA Cup and also lost in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
However, Emery's Arsenal started the 2019/20 in terrible form, winning four of their opening 15 Premier League games. They sat just outside the top-half heading into December, and a 2-1 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion proved to his final game in charge.
Mikel Arteta was named as his replacement and he helped the club to win the FA Cup in the same season. Despite failing to qualify for Europe last season, the former Everton midfielder has been given time to implement his style and philosophy on the squad and patience has paid off this term.
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They currently sit in fourth with four matches to go. But unlike Arteta, Wenger doesn't believe Emery was given enough time and also explained his success as a coach.
When asked about whether he was unfairly treated at Arsenal, Wenger told BEIN Sports: "They didn't give him enough time, but there is a lot to talk about. For example, is it right that a team who is not successful in the group stages can play in the Europa League.
"For the last 10 years, the teams who are not successful in the Champions League go on to win the UEFA Cup. So, he has transformed a non-successful team into a successful one with Sevilla.
"It was more to give an importance to the trophy than to the sporting integrity. I think Unai Emery is a great coach, he has shown it in Spain and he is constantly at the top level."
