According to the Daily Mail, Nuno Espirito Santo is topping the list of Arsenal’s potential candidates to replace Unai Emery. The Gunners have already started preparing for life without the Spaniard and have now identified the current Wolves manager as a potential successor to Emery. It is believed that Nuno’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has a good relationship with Raul Sanllehi, which could help the club to hire the Portuguese head coach. But is he a wise option for the Gunners?
Nuno’s success at Wolves
Nuno was primarily known for his success at FC Porto before Wolverhampton Wanderers hired him in the summer of 2017. His vision tuned in perfectly with the club’s seemingly growing ambition and two and a half years later, Nuno’s contribution has played a key role behind Wolves’ rapid rise to prominence.
Indeed, the 45-year-old helped Wolves gain direct promotion to the Premier League in his first season in charge of the club. Not only that but his aggressive style of play helped the club make quite a statement in their return to the top flight as they finished seventh in the league last season.
Although the West-Midlands outfit has had a difficult start to the campaign, they have now managed to recover their form and are currently fifth in the table. It highlights Nuno’s ability to not only build a foundation but also motivate his troops – making him one of the most sought-after managers in Europe.
Is Nuno the ideal target for Arsenal?
Nuno could be an exciting hire for Arsenal for multiple reasons. As mentioned earlier, the 45-year-old can build the foundations of a strong team. Thus, appointing him means that the club should brace themselves for a fresh start, which is perfect at this time, with the January transfer window just around the corner.
Arsenal have a bunch of talented veterans in their armoury while they have also managed to produce a lot of quality young players in recent years. The Gunners have a perfect balance in their team – something Nuno could use to give the club a new identity that they have lacked since the decline of the famed Arsene Wenger.
Furthermore, the Portuguese mastermind has also gained a wealth of experience in English football during his time at Wolves, which is sure to help him thrive at Arsenal. It is, however, fair to mention that the Gunners should also explore some of their other options. Carlo Ancelotti, for one, could be another exciting choice to fill in the managerial position at the Emirates Stadium.
