From Emery to Arteta, Could Chelsea Follow Arsenal’s Rebuild Path?

TL;DR

The article explores whether Chelsea can replicate Arsenal's successful rebuild under Mikel Arteta after experiencing turmoil under Unai Emery. It emphasizes the importance of fan relationships with ownership in this potential transition.

Key points

Chelsea is considering a rebuild similar to Arsenal's.
The article focuses on fan relationships with ownership.
Arsenal's fanbase was toxic during Unai Emery's tenure.
Empty seats were visible at Arsenal matches under Emery.

Mentioned in this story

Unai EmeryMikel Arteta

ChelseaArsenal

From Emery to Arteta, Could Chelsea Follow Arsenal’s Rebuild Path?

Let me make it clear to begin with, I’m not writing about the enormous debt that Chelsea have, nor am I talking about their off field disciplinary record.

I’m writing about, firstly, the fans and their relationship with the owners.

When Unai left Arsenal, the fanbase was so toxic regarding Mr Kroenke. Our fans were being described as losers, with Sky showing thousands of empty seats as said fans were streaming out of the Emirates before one particular match had finished.

The self same thing happened at Chelsea against Forest, but on a much larger scale.

Disconnect between fans, players and owners

There seemed to be no connection between the fans, the players and the owners. The football was dire and it seemed obvious to me that the players were not playing for the manager at either club.

The Arsenal owner, at the time Unai was sacked, had not really backed him with the kind of money needed to challenge for honours, while the Chelsea owners certainly have, so there is that difference.

However, our club then took a gamble on a complete rookie, when Mr Kroenke appointed Mikel Arteta. Chelsea are now in a similar position and it will be interesting to see who they decide to give the job of managing this group of, seemingly, disinterested players and what said manager will do to try and bring the club back together again.

Our owner deserves great credit for backing Arteta, both with time and money and Mikel has dragged our club back to where we are now, while taking many decisions that I, personally, felt were the wrong ones and said so quite passionately at the time.

But here we are, six seasons later, just a whisker away from winning the PL title for the first time in nearly two decades.