Arsenal's Henrikh Mkhitaryan is hopeful that new manager Unai Emery will bring with him new ideas to get the team back to competing for major honours.
Emery was announced as the Gunners' new boss on Wednesday, the Spaniard given the unenviable task of picking up where Arsene Wenger – a 22-year veteran of the club – left off.
And Mkhitaryan, himself a fairly new face at the Emirates after having swapped Manchester United for the north London outfit in January, hopes that the latest shake-up at the club will provide the boost Arsenal need to return to the top – even if he hasn't spoken to his new boss yet.
“I hope he will bring new tactical ideas and spirit to Arsenal,” the Armenia international told Vivaro News, “I hope he will succeed.
“I still haven't had the opportunity to meet him, we didn't have time to talk with each other.
“I haven't talked to my team-mates about him either, I would like to meet him.
“Everyone in the club is a professional himself – everyone knows what he should do and what he is expected to do.”
Turning his attention to the difficult departure of Wenger, Mkhitaryan stated that it was more than just the playing squad that were left reeling by the Frenchman's farewell.
“Not only the players but the whole staff were sad,” he said, “It's not that easy to handle the exit of a man who managed the team for 22 years.
“You can't imagine how amazed everyone was about the atmosphere he created. If he had decided to stay for 10 more years no one would have been against it.”
Looking to the future, however, the attacking midfielder is confident that Arsenal can put a disappointing season behind them and focus on a swift return to Europe's top club competition.
“Our priority was qualification for the Champions League, but unfortunately we didn't manage that.
“We fought for it but anything can happen in football. We'll focus next season and return to the Champions League in two years.”
