Unai Emery knows the precise moment Javi Gracia was sacked as Watford manager – because he was with his fellow Spaniard in Hondarribia when he got the news.
Gracia was replaced by Quique Sanchez Flores last Saturday after 19 months at the helm during which time he guided the Hornets to the second FA Cup Final in their history but also the bottom of the Premier League after four matches of the current campaign.
Arsenal coach Emery used the downtime offered by the international break to return to his home town in Spain, where he bumped into his long-time friend and began discussing the prospect of facing each other in Sunday’s League meeting at Vicarage Road.
“It’s amazing,” said Emery. “I met him, we found each other last week in my town, in Hondarribia, when I was there with my family. I was walking and in front us was Javi Gracia. And in the moment we started speaking about our match, we finished it knowing he was sacked. It’s a good story, yes?”
Emery has previously revealed that Gracia advised him on life in England when he was considering succeeding Arsene Wenger as Arsenal manager last summer and the pair have also dined in St Albans together with their coaches and families.
“When the possibility opened up to sign here, the first coach, the first person in the football world I called was him,'” Emery said of Gracia.
“I asked him some questions about the football here, the clubs, Arsenal and he recommended to me that I come here.”
“They are my friends, not only Javi Gracia but also his assistant Zigor Aranalde and Inigo Arteaga. We know the assistant coaches and Javi Gracia and we appreciate them.'”
Speaking specifically about Watford’s decision to sack Gracia, Emery added: “He is a very good coach, as he showed last year in Watford. The club decided, and I have to respect that. He is going to work and he is going to continue his career like he is, like a great coach.”
