Monchi, the sporting director credited with transforming Sevilla into a continental force, has revealed that he came within a contract exchange of joining Arsenal in 2018 — and that his decision to walk away created tension with his long-time ally Unai Emery.

Speaking to Mucho Deporte, the former Sevilla goalkeeper-turned-director explained that Emery contacted him after Monchi resolved to leave Roma, with Arsenal keen to bring the pair together at the club following Arsene Wenger's exit after 22 years.

A call he could not refuse

"Once I had decided to leave Roma, Unai called me about going to Arsenal," Monchi said. "I was on the verge of going. But amidst the whirlwind of exchanging contracts with Arsenal, Pepe Castro called me. Just as he had helped me leave for Roma because I asked him to, I couldn't say no to that call."

Castro's intervention pulled Monchi back to Sevilla for a second spell — one he describes as "incredibly" rewarding despite being "four difficult, complicated years."

"It caused a bit of friction with Unai," Monchi admitted, "because he was very excited, as was I, about me going to Arsenal."

Emery's time at Arsenal and beyond

Without Monchi alongside him, Emery struggled at Arsenal. He finished fifth in his debut season and lost the UEFA Europa League final 4-1, before being dismissed in November of his second campaign. Recruitment during that period fell to Raul Sanlehhi and Sven Mislintat.

Arsenal's fortunes eventually improved under Mikel Arteta, while Emery rebuilt his reputation — first by delivering a UEFA Europa League title with Villarreal, then repeating the feat at Aston Villa, where Monchi would join him once more as sporting director.

Monchi's admiration for Emery

Despite the early friction, Monchi spoke warmly about the coach's evolution. "The Unai I know from Sevilla is nothing like the Unai I've come to know in Birmingham; he is a much better Unai, because he is someone who is always striving to improve," he said.

"He is deeply inquisitive about football — obsessed with video analysis, imagery, and match preparation — and a coach who has almost always been successful."

Together at Sevilla, Monchi and Emery helped engineer three consecutive UEFA Europa League titles, building a partnership — and a scouting model — that European clubs have since rushed to replicate.