We at The Hard Tackle present three potentially suitable replacements for Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.
Like many things in life, Arsene Wenger’s departure too is inevitable, maybe not this season, but at some point for sure. Season after season, for the last few years, when results have not gone Arsenal’s way, the press has quickly come with the ammunition to fuel speculation about his departure.
But this departure is in Arsene’s hands and when he does leave, Arsenal fans will be hoping for someone equally capable of taking the club forward.
But are there enough managers with the same persona and character to replace the legendary Frenchman? Another more pressing question is whether the eventual replacement can take the club forward or will he stall all progress in the short run?
You can take a swipe at me for making a cliched reference about Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson, but the Red Devils are the club closest to Arsenal when it comes to culture and managerial pattern.
Ask any United fan, and they’ll tell you how they could still make do with Alex Ferguson at the helm, and the club post the enigmatic Scot’s departure hasn’t exactly been a regular story. But with the right managerial appointment, Arsenal are more than capable of progression.
At that point mentioned above about the last few seasons, there are some capable managers mentioned as Wenger’s replacements, but are they capable of replacing a man who has performed consistently for 22-years at one club? I don’t think so! An Eddie Howe or a Brendan Rodgers is indeed not the answer to Arsenal’s managerial problems. So who could it be?
Here’s what we believe are the three candidates who could replace Wenger.
Antonio Conte – Chelsea
Although there has been no official club statement from Chelsea or the man himself, there is a belief that he will leave Chelsea or even get the sack at the end of the season. Antonio Conte would and should be the name Arsenal consider as the best possible replacement for Wenger.
He has an impressive track record in improving player performances as well as tactically reforming a team, and these should be attributes Arsenal should be looking for in their new manager.
Conte, the way he made Chelsea champions after a disastrous season should be the example. For instance, Mauricio Pochettino, who has seemingly had a better squad than Conte’s Chelsea, is yet to make any real progress towards winning the Premier League title.
Conte’s work with Juventus and the Italian national team should also be blueprints of his work ethic, and his unmatched passion on the pitch can only be an asset for Arsenal. Conte’s primary attribute is player management; though some will point the lack of goals this season to the surprise sale of Diego Costa, it indeed showed he’s the boss in the dressing room.
Conte or any other coach for that matter is not going to stick to one club as Wenger and Alex Ferguson did, but he represents the best choice to transition the club to the next level. He could also solve the puzzle of Arsenal not winning a Premier League title.
Thomas Tuchel – Unattached
When Jurgen Klopp left Borussia Dortmund after an unexpectedly disastrous season, Thomas Tuchel took over. The result, an excellent finish to his first season along with creating a new breed of attacking football, with not many big name players.
Tuchel brought the best out of every player in his Dortmund team, something that Arsene has been unable to do of late. The one big problem Tuchel solves is to have a Plan-B or Plan-C when the Plan-A fails. Arsene Wenger has been adamant when it comes to making tactical changes for his team in the aftermath of failure.
For instance, Arsene Wenger expertly planned his teams around Santi Cazorla, yet in his absence, the Gunners have been all over the place. Tuchel built his Dortmund team around multiple players, as a situation would beg.
Tuchel is currently free of any employment and Arsenal’s legacy of attacking football could suit both parties.
Massimiliano Allegri – Juventus
Give Pep Guardiola a good team, and he would take them far in the Champions League and a title fight with all vigour and enthusiasm. Why? Because he’s got the experience to do so, Barcelona, Bayern and now City. But Brendan Rodgers did that too, but he sure is not the choice for Arsenal, or is he?
Max Allegri is by far one of the few managers left in this vast world of football who could do it. His choices with player transfers and especially training them to be champions elect should be something worth considering for Arsenal. He might have an initial language problem, but so did Mauricio Pochettino and Conte, but they have come through it okay.
To make his choice clearer, he has the experience in taking his team to Champions League Finals, and he was the manager who got AC Milan their last Serie A title, a title which he has continued conquering since becoming Juventus manager. Man management is another one of Allegri’s great qualities that make him an ideal candidate, just look at the big names he manages at Juventus.
Arsenal are a big club in regards to a fan base, finance and players. The question though, remains whether Allegri would, if given a chance to become the Gunners manager, relish the opportunity to manage the club out of the current disarray they are currently enduring.
Verdict –
Of the three choices mentioned above, our feeling is that Max Allegri will be more suited to the job Arsene Wenger has managed for the last 22-years or so. He would be the best choice to take the club forward and into the next generation on many levels. Conte and Tuchel are good choices, but they do not possess the smartness and longevity of Allegri.
Tuchel will undoubtedly give an attacking edge, while Conte could provide with instant results, but Allegri will provide the strength and assurance of stabilising the club in the long run with results in the short term.
Do you agree with our choices? Leave a comment below to tell us who you think would suit as Arsene Wenger’s replacement as Arsenal’s manager.
