Arsenal chief Sanllehi was involved in the decision-making when the club drafted in Emery as Arsene Wenger’s replacement last summer.
The Spaniard had a solid, if unspectacular, first season at the helm. It was always going to be tough replacing Wenger, particularly with a Gunners squad in dire need of investment.
Emery can be an Arsenal hit, in the right circumstances. He was close to securing them a top four finish, while the 4-1 Europa League final defeat to Chelsea was a bitter pill to swallow.
His cause is not, however, being helped by those above him.
Arsenal chief Raul Sanllehi has made two transfer errors already to the ire of Unai Emery (Image: GETTY)
Arsenal are having to wait for Edu in order to conduct their transfer business (Image: GETTY)
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They have little funds to spend this summer following their failure to secure Champions League football but that’s no excuse. Bodies are needed, and hesitancy is dangerous.
Especially when Arsenal’s rivals are already getting things moving, if not always having the success they desire.
Manchester United have landed Daniel James and are on the brink of landing Aaron Wan-Bissaka. A centre-back, a central midfielder and a new forward could all very well follow.
Manchester City will make Rodri their first signing of the transfer window, with the Atletico Madrid star primed to join in a £62m deal.
Liverpool are sitting tight at present but have indicated they will move for a Nabil Fekir or Ousmane Dembele should they become available.
Tottenham are eager to land Bruno Fernandes and have talked with his agent over a transfer.
But Arsenal are stalling - to their detriment.
Emery needs reinforcements, badly. But the brutal fact of the matter is that his Arsenal position will become a lot less certain if next season isn’t an improvement.
He was allowed a bedding in period.
But that won’t stick should, in 12 months time, Arsenal find themselves in a similarly dire situation.