Report: Arsenal players openly mocked Emery's communication, decisions
Hours after Arsenal confirmed Unai Emery's exit, reports surfaced that several first-team players mocked the manager as his failed spell in north London unraveled.
Arsenal players taunted the Spaniard on the flight home from a Europa League clash with Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal, according to the Evening Standard's James Olley.
"How many captains do we have?" said an unnamed player within earshot of Emery, who sat alone on the flight home following the 1-1 draw, reports Olley.
The comment was aimed at Emery's decision to strip Granit Xhaka of the armband. Nine players assumed captaincy duties during Emery's year-and-a-half tenure at the helm for Arsenal.
Olley alleges players mocked Emery's broken English on numerous occasions, both openly, and passively through "likes" on social media. Emery's English improved dramatically since his appointment, but the consensus is the players were often unsure what he was trying to articulate.
Communication was at the root of Emery's divide from the players. Winger Bukayo Saka confirmed as much in September, saying, "sometimes when I don't understand when the coach is trying to communicate with me, I have a better communication with Freddie [Ljungberg]."
Emery's sacking was a long time in the making; the former Paris Saint-Germain and Sevilla manager's countless confusing decisions and marathon video sessions amid the Gunners' worst run in 27 years only accelerated the process.
Since joining Arsenal, Emery used more players (35) and made more halftime substitutions (32) than any Premier League manager over that spell.
He also appeared to struggle as a motivator, and several senior players failed to acclimate to the Spaniard's methods.
According to The Independent's Miguel Delaney, Emery attempted to inspire the players before a match with a huddle and cries of "Arsenal! Arsenal! Arsenal!"
It's now clear Emery wasn't the right person for the job, while Arsenal's claims he was the unanimous choice appear false. Delaney reports the club's shortlist for Arsene Wenger's successor included Patrick Vieira, Brendan Rodgers, Max Allegri, Julian Nagelsmann, Carlo Ancelotti, and Mikel Arteta - with no mention of Emery.
Instead, Emery's name was reportedly included as a last-minute alternative when Arteta, Pep Guardiola's current assistant at Manchester City, emerged as the favorite in negotiations for the Arsenal position.
In an era in which managers have to be strong communicators and motivators, reports suggest Emery was neither. Ultimately, it cost him a job.