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Arsenal boss Unai Emery needs three transfer windows to get rid of 'Arsene Wenger scent', says Alan Shearer

Patience: Shearer thinks Emery needs 18 months to stamp his mark: Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Patience: Shearer thinks Emery needs 18 months to stamp his mark: Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Alan Shearer believes Unai Emery will need patience to get rid of the "scent of Arsene Wenger" at Arsenal.

The former Newcastle and Blackburn forward was speaking in his column in the Sun, suggesting that the new Gunners boss will need some time to dispel the mist that was left by the former manager.

Emery has endured a tricky start at Emirates Stadium, and with no points from opening games against Manchester City and Chelsea, the Gunners are just one place about the relegation zone.

The opening day of the season saw reigning champions City crash Emery’s arrival party, cruising to a 2-0 victory on Arsenal's patch. Marcos Alonso's late winner at Stamford Bridge a week later sealed a 3-2 victory for Chelsea despite a spirited fightback from the Gunners, who wrestled back from 2-0 down to go in at half-time level.

And the Premier League’s all-time record goal scorer believes that the new boss needs time to turn things round.

“It is going to be hugely difficult for Unai Emery to get rid of the scent of Arsene Wenger at Arsenal,” Shearer said.

“Wenger’s stamp is all over that football club – in and around the training ground, in and around the Emirates,

“You cannot expect a guy to be in a club for six weeks and miraculously turn it around and for everything to be rosy straight away,

“He will probably need 18 months and three transfer windows to get rid of Arsene Wenger’s shadow, you can only really judge him after that.”