There seems to be an air of uncertainty at Arsenal as the fans are unhappy with manager Arsene Wenger after the club is yet again on the verge of a knockout from the Champions League round of 16 after already losing out on the Premier League title to Chelsea. The 67-year-old has been accused of lacking ambition, getting the team selection wrong and failing to instil a winning mentality among the players.
Although voices have been there for the last few years, it is for the first time that the intellectuals, who otherwise advocated for the 67-year-old French man so long, has started doubting his credentials as the right man to continue being at the helm.
We have come up with three options that Arsenal could consider replacing Wenger with.
Rafael Benitez- The only silverware Arsenal have been kept away from since their inception is the European Cup and the Spaniard excels in delivering it. The former Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and current Newcastle United manager has won three European silverwares in his managerial career so far.
He won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2004, Europa League with Chelsea in 2012 and UEFA Cup with Valencia before all that in 2003. In the 828 matches played so far, Benitez has won 450 and lost 194. However, he is also infamous for his disagreements with the board and it could deter the club’s stability in the long run.
Massimiliano Allegri- If there is one manager, who displays similar traits like the current Arsenal boss, it is Allegri. Although the Italian is yet to win any European tournament, he has achieved huge respect through his rich coaching skills and tactical maturity. He has won everything in Italy with Milan and Juventus and England remains an unchartered territory for him.
In his managerial career, he has brought up some brilliant players like Stephan El Shaarawy, Mattia De Sciglio and later on Mario Balotelli. In the 440 matches, he has managed so far, Allegri has won 239 and lost 104. Like Benitez, he also favours the 4-2-3-1 setup that Arsenal squad is currently structured in.
Mauricio Pochettino- Although Arsenal fans will never acknowledge the tactical and managerial genius of the Argentine boss, one cannot deny the quality he has taken Tottenham Hotspur to, in the last two years. Spurs appointed him after he led Southampton to an eighth-place finish in 2013, which is their highest league position since 1989–90.
He is responsible for promoting young players like Harry Kane, Eric Dier and Dele Alli, who are Spurs’ driving force now. Tottenham have inarguably been better than Arsenal in the last two seasons. Under him, Spurs have won 51.45% of their games and if Arsenal manage to bring him in, they are in for some glorious years.
