The Telegraph is reporting that Arsene Wenger’s long-standing job at Arsenal is under immense scrutiny at the moment and the board is planning to replace the Frenchman come the end of the season. Reports believe that the Gunners are considering several alternatives with the likes of AS Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim and former Arsenal player Mikel Arteta amongst the favourites.
Realistically looking at the situation at Arsenal and their board’s relation with Wenger, there is no telling as to when the Frenchman would actually leave but replacing a man of Wenger’s magnitude would mean that the club would need to go through a thorough transition to overcome the hangover of the post-Wenger era.
Things at the club otherwise have not really gone down well in the recent years. The club has been deprived of success in terms of trophies and with major players leaving almost every other transfer window, there has been a question on Arsenal’s eligibility as a top European club.
Despite such mounting pressure, it has been astounding to see Wenger stick to his principles and continue to play “beautiful” football with the preference being given to young and technically gifted players. In such a scenario, if Arsenal were to actually move Wenger on, Arteta would not be the worst decision in terms of continuing the progress of the technical aspect of the club.
Mikel Arteta was formerly a Spanish international midfielder who played for Everton and Arsenal. He is currently working as an assistant to a mastermind of football in Pep Guardiola at the Etihad and could jump at the offer to manage a club like Arsenal. However, there is a lot more to managing a club than to simply control the technical aspect of the football.
It involves the team chemistry, the players and their personal problems, appeasing the coaching staff, meeting the various targets of the board and above all having the know-how to handle the fan and the media pressure day in day out. It is in this aspect that the Spaniard still has a lot to learn before he can take the steps to becoming the manager of a giant club like Arsenal.
