Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has claimed that Unai Emery was never quite suited to Arsenal as he praised Aston Villa for appointing the Spaniard.
The former Villarreal head coach was announced as Steven Gerrard’s replacement in the Midlands on Monday evening - Villa completing a quickfire deal with the La Liga club to secure his signature by paying his release clause.
His move to Villa Park sees Emery return to English shores for the first time in nearly three years having previously taken the reins at Arsenal. He was of course appointed as the man to replace iconic manager Arsene Wenger.
Things did not exactly go as planned having only been in charge for a year-and-a-half before then being jettisoned in favour of current boss Mikel Arteta.
Despite that, Emery still has a fantastic reputation within the game having won four Europa League titles with Villarreal and Sevilla and also leading Paris Saint-Germain to a domestic treble in his time at the Parc des Princes.
Reacting to the Spaniard's recent appointment, Carragher has claimed that he is far more suited to taking over clubs who could potentially be punching above their weights - potentially a reason behind why he failed in North London.
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Speaking on Sky Sports - less than an hour before Emery's move was officially confirmed - Carragher said: “I think it would be a fantastic appointment. I am a huge fan of Unai Emery. He’s had a lot of his success with, I would say, teams just below the elite almost fighting against the biggest clubs. I think it didn’t quite go so well for him at Arsenal.
“You look at what he did with Villarreal; Europa League winners, how far they pushed Liverpool in the Champions League. I think it’s that type.
“He did brilliant at Valencia by always getting them into the Champions League places so I don’t think he’s the type of manager - I’m not saying this in a disrespectful way - for a Barcelona or a Real Madrid but Valencia, Aston Villa. Almost trying to compete against sides who have got more money.
“He gets his teams really organised and he’s a super coach but maybe not for the biggest names on the planet but for Aston Villa right now, I think that would be a great appointment.”
Emery will officially take charge of Villa on November 1 with work permit issues still yet to be resolved, meaning his first game will come against Manchester United at Villa Park.
He will have to wait until February next year for a reunion with former club Arsenal with the Gunners having run out 2-1 victors in August’s meeting between the two sides at the Emirates Stadium.
