Unai Emery has been branded “irrelevant” at Arsenal by former club captain Tony Adams, with a new era in north London set to be shaped by the transfer dealings of Sven Mislintat.
The Gunners have brought in a new manager and charged him with the task of rebuilding following a period of regression towards the end of Arsene Wenger’s iconic 22-year reign.
Emery will be assisted in the summer by head of recruitment Mislintat and head of football relations Raul Sanllehi as the club look at bringing in new faces.
And Adams believes that duo can be considered more important to the collective cause at Emirates Stadium, with the man in the dugout left to make the best of what he is given to work with.
The Arsenal legend told the Daily Star: “Your head coach is irrelevant.
“You are only as good as your recruitment. It’s all about getting the right players in this game.
“We’re going to have to see if the guys Ivan Gazidis has brought in are good in that market.
“It’s a market that’s very overcrowded and we’re probably down the pecking order in terms of finances.
“It’ll be difficult if they’re looking for European players - it’ll be quite tricky.”
Mislintat was drafted in from Borussia Dortmund to replace long-serving chief scout Steve Rowley.
Adams believes Arsenal have made the right decision in moving in a different direction, but fears there may be tough times ahead as a side which has once again failed to secure Champions League football endeavours to compete with domestic and continental rivals for the best talent on the market.
He added: “Ivan Gazidis never had to make a decision but now he’s having to. He’s let a lot of people go.
“He realises it’s not been good enough and now maybe he’s doing something about it.
“I think these people need to be more accountable, step up and do their stuff.
“My great pal Rowley was phenomenal. He was the best in the business.
“I can’t see another one recruiting as good as him and Steve obviously isn’t there anymore.”
Arsenal have already tied up the signing of veteran Swiss full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner, while deals for Dortmund defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini are reported to be in the pipeline.