Self-confessed bookworm Unai Emery has just finished reading a book which carries a title he will want to transpose onto his Arsenal side when they face Liverpool on Saturday night.
The Spaniard revealed he has just reached the end of “Good Luck” – a story by compatriot Alex Rovira – as he continues his passion of reading.
Emery, who has previously handed self-improvement books to his players, believes such titles can help improve a person and a footballer.
📝 "We want to write a new history" – #ARSLIV@UnaiEmery_ keen to begin a new chapter as we seek to improve our record against the top-six teams 👇 — Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) November 2, 2018
He revealed in his authorised biography ‘El Maestro’ that he bought two books for all of his Valencia squad when he first moved to the LaLiga club and has used them to eradicate the weaknesses he felt he had earlier in his own career.
“I am very demanding of myself,” he said.
“I know first that I need to continue improving in the new language so I can explain good my English with you and with every supporter, and also inside with the players.
“I need to continue reading books and I like a lot to learn about different people in the world, different people with success, in and outside of football.
🗓 #OnThisDay in 2013…@aaronramsey with the rocket against Liverpool 🚀 pic.twitter.com/YfkCzEBci2 — Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) November 2, 2018
“I use it for me and I use it also to give the players my experience or my learning in every moment. I know the quality is very important, the performance is about this quality and also working together tactically. The most important is the head.
“I usually give them (players) some books to read, but not yet here. Not yet. They are books for personal development, for demanding things to do.”
Emery turns 47 on Saturday and will be hoping to toast his birthday with victory over Liverpool – the side he beat in the 2016 Europa League final in his last match in charge of Sevilla.
🚨 Here's our team news ahead of #ARSLIV… — Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) November 2, 2018
He beat Jurgen Klopp’s Reds in Basle that night but Emery admits he wants to smile as much as his counterpart.
Liverpool had finished sixth in the previous season when Klopp arrived in October 2015 but have now developed into a side capable of reaching the Champions League final and challenging at the top of the Premier League.
Arsene Wenger could only take Arsenal to sixth in his final season at the helm and, asked if he will need as much time as Klopp to turn the Gunners into title contenders, Emery was complimentary of the German.
"It's perfect! We won a lot of matches in the second half." 😅 @UnaiEmery_ pic.twitter.com/T9nE8FTdLx — Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) November 2, 2018
“I want to do quickly our best performance but I know we need one process,” he added.
“I know we need one time for improving and development. I want to enjoy it every day. I look at Klopp and he smiles every day, I want to smile like him.
“A smile is better when you win. We need to do things positive, with smiling and then with enjoying but also enjoying and working.
“I need to learn also to smile more. When we win it’s more easy. I need also to smile at other moments.
“But our work is very demanding work for us. Every day we need to be very, very prepared for each match.”
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