Arsenal news: Unai Emery hailed for ‘brave’ Mesut Ozil decision

“Arsenal were carrying him. He was a passenger in the game.

“Before the season started, Emery was lavishing praise on Ozil, which I suspect was to try and get the best out of him.

“But he has barely kicked the ball in Arsenal's first two games.”
Despite an impressive CV, former PSG and Sevilla boss Emery was a surprise choice to succeed Wenger in the Arsenal dugout.

He has already achieved an unwanted record in losing the first two Premier League games of the season - something Wenger avoided during his 22-year reign.

And Shearer believes Emery will need at least one-and-a-half seasons to mould the team in his vision.
“It is going to be hugely difficult for Unai Emery to get rid of the scent of Arsene Wenger at Arsenal,” the former England striker noted.

“Wenger's stamp is all over that football club — in and around the training ground, in and around the Emirates.

“And it is very difficult for any manager to follow someone who has been at a club for so many years.

“Just look at David Moyes when he followed Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
“You cannot expect a guy to be in a club for six weeks and miraculously turn it around and for everything to be rosy again straight away.

“Arsenal are going to have to suffer for a while and, like it or not, they are going to have to be patient.

“It's small steps. There is no point saying the manager won't cut it or he won't be good at this or that.
“He will probably need 18 months and three transfer windows to get rid of Wenger's shadow.
“And you can only really start to judge him after that.”

Arsenal, who lost to Manchester City on the opening weekend, are already playing catch up, and Shearer believes they are unlikely to return to the Champions League any time soon.

“At the minute, the Gunners look a million miles away from launching a challenge for the Premier League,” he said.

“And with their current team, I would very much doubt that they will even get into the top four.
“They are already six points behind their rivals and, at this early stage, that is worrying.
“Emery has a massive job on his hands. There is so much work to do.”