Friday 20 April 2018

The Only Two Managers Who Can Replace Arsene Wenger


On Friday Arsene Wenger announced his retirement as the manager of Arsenal at the end of the season. This brings an end to the Frenchmen's tenure at Arsenal which spanned 22 years where he amassed 17 trophies including three Premier League titles and seven FA Cup wins.

However, this begs the big question: what's next for Arsenal?

So with that in mind a list of big names have been thrown around with speculation rife as to who will replace Wenger next season.

The rumoured names on that list include:
Thomas Tuchel
Carlo Ancelotti 
Massimiliano Allegri
Joachim Löw
Patrick Viera 
Thierry Henry
Leonardo Jardim
Eddie Howe

As impressive as that list may be at the moment its observable that if Arsenal wish to navigate this delicate period they'll have to lean towards a more safe, and preferably, long term option.

And only two managers come to mind in that regard. 

Antonio Conte or Diego Simeone would be perfect for the manager role at this juncture for number of reasons.

Firstly, there has been doubt over the futures of both managers at their current clubs and with Wenger vacating his role at Arsenal, the Emirates could be a place either of the two could home for the foreseeable future.

Conte and Simeone also have the number one  prerequisite that any manager need in order to succeed; they're both tried and tested winners who built themselves into success.

As Wenger exits the Emirates its clear that Arsenal will be going in a new direction, and that requires a total remodelling of the side as well as galvanizing to build a new legacy and who else would you put your money on?

Conte laid much of the groundwork for the success that Juventus enjoy today. The Old Lady had suffered greatly in the aftermath of the 2006 match-fixing scandal which resulted in Juve spending a season in Serie B back in 2007/08. The subsequent years yielded very little joy but  Juve's hopes were renewed with the arrival of Conte in 2011 as they won the first of their six successive Serie A titles (three under Conte) the following season finishing the league season unbeaten.

Simeone spurred Atletico Madrid on to a La Liga title and a Champions League final in a fairy tale season back in 2014, marking the first time since 2004 where neither Real Madrid or Barcelona had won the league title. Including that league title under Simeone Atleti also won a further four trophies which include the Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Copa, Europa League and UEFA Super Cup which is monumental considering the limited resources the Argentine had to work with.

Fittingly both managers are also in favour of defensive solidity and organisation; areas in which Arsenal have been found lacking for a number seasons, but even more importantly either one of managers are what Arsenal need right now: someone who can light a fire under them after a tepid last few seasons.

There is a sense that over the last few years that the passion seems to have gone out of Arsenal's game as for the most part Wenger cut an expressionless figure as his team were yet again floundering or walloped by a rival, and in times like those a number of Gunners players needed a stern word or two.

Conte or Simeone would do a great deal for Arsenal as they would do much to ignite some fire, which it seems under Wenger looked to be slowly suffocated as they plodded from one indignity to another season after season.

In terms of support and resources the next Arsenal manager should find both as a welcome incentive to take the reins at the Emirates. 

Antonio Conte's season has been mainly characterized by his unhappiness at boardrooms having blighted Chelsea's title defence as well as the inability to get to players that he wanted. At Arsenal that may likely be the case as the club will a critical stage which could make or break the club over the next few seasons.

Simeone would in all likelyhood would also relish the chance to manage a team with a more financial muscle which he could use to mould Arsenal into a team capable of competing with Europe's best.











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