Ivan Gazidis 'excited and delighted' by Unai Emery appointment

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has declared that he is "excited and delighted" by the arrival of Unai Emery as the club's new manager.

Presenting the Spaniard to the media, the businessman issued a statement explaining why the former Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain head coach was chosen to succeed Arsene Wenger.

"I've felt for some time he's a superb fit for the criteria I laid out but it's important to move it beyond the paper exercise," Gazidis told reporters.

"It was very important to move to personal meetings and it was in that where he was impressive. [Emery was] extraordinarily well prepared with a knowledge of Arsenal and an analysis of all of our players - their qualities and how he can help them develop.

"[He] also provided an in-depth knowledge of our off-the-field team. The thing that distinguished him above all that was the chemistry between us and the feeling for football in the room.

"He has a feeling and competitive energy and it is this passion, love for football and will to win that made us feel it as exactly right for Arsenal."

Emery is Arsenal's first new manager in almost 22 years, having succeeded the long-serving Wenger in the role.