Unai Emery says he is working 'normally' with Sven Mislintat despite head of recruitment's expected Arsenal exit

Arsenal manager Unai Emery gestures
Arsenal manager Unai Emery is working alongside Sven Mislintat on potential transfer dealings Credit: Reuters

Unai Emery, the Arsenal head coach, has insisted he is working “normally” with Sven Mislintat despite the club’s head of recruitment being expected to leave the club.

Mislintat is believed to be departing north London as Arsenal continue to restructure at a senior level following the exits of former manager Arsene Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis last year.

Mislintat’s influence has waned following Gazidis’s surprise departure to AC Milan and the German, who built his reputation at Borussia Dortmund, is likely to be marginalised further when Arsenal succeed in their plans to appoint a technical director.

But Emery said he is still working alongside Mislintat as normal as Arsenal look to bolster their squad in the January transfer window.

“I was working with him [Mislintat] the last two weeks,” Emery said. “We had two or three meetings together and we are working normally. I don’t know another different issue [with] him.

“When I spoke with him it was all normal. My relationship with him for transfers in the last two or three weeks, we are speaking about that. Today, for me, the normality is working with him.”

Arsenal are trying to secure a loan move for Barcelona winger Denis Suarez, who has previously worked under Emery during their time together at Sevilla.

Emery said conversations about Suarez were “private”, but added that it will be difficult to complete any deals before the end of the month.

“This transfer window is not easy to take players that can help us with better performances than the players we have now,” Emery said.

“The club is working and I spoke with Sven, with Raul [Sanllehi, the head of football] about different possibilities with players. They are working but it is not easy to take players that can help us with big performances now.

“I think it is one transfer for something special that can help us. We are looking, the club is working with the possibility to loan players and if we can take players [that] can help us in a different position.”

Emery added that Mesut Ozil could make a return to the side for this weekend’s crucial meeting with Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. Ozil was once again dropped from the entire squad for last weekend’s defeat by West Ham United, prompting suggestions that he could be allowed to leave the club.

“I am not thinking about that,” Emery said. “I am thinking about how he can help us this year with good performances. He’s had injuries and not been okay to play matches, but now after these two weeks maybe Saturday will be okay for him.

“I like to create the same spirit for all, and that spirit is every player gets and gives consistent work and moments with their performances, but it’s not easy. Sometimes you are better and sometimes you are worse. I am working with every player in the same way. The most important thing for me is how he can help us.”

Meanwhile, Emery hailed Petr Cech as a “very big person” after the goalkeeper announced his decision to retire from football earlier this week. “He is a great player with a lot of titles in his career,” Emery said. “The respect to him is very big from me and from all of the football world.”

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