According to Guillem Balague, Diego Simeone has no intention of moving to Arsenal. The Sky Sports journalist believes that the Atletico Madrid manager is not willing to jump ship despite a stuttering start to the campaign and a relatively rough period at his current club. This could serve as a massive blow for Arsenal, who are actively in search of a new manager, who can replace Unai Emery.
Why Simeone could have been a perfect option for Arsenal
Arsenal have lacked a proper system and identity ever since the decline of Arsene Wenger. And the recent departure of Emery indicates the fact that the board cannot solve the club’s problems unless they hire someone who can genuinely introduce a new identity.
Simeone, in that regard, would have been an ideal choice. The Atleti manager is known for his rigid, defence-oriented system, which is physically and mentally quite demanding. His ability to motivate his players as well as make them work as a collective unit is what led to Atletico’s rapid rise to prominence within the past six years.
Simeone is not drawn to money or fame, unlike most other modern-day managers. But most importantly, he is someone who knows his tactics well and isn’t afraid to start from scratch, which is what Arsenal really need at the moment. Moreover, the Argentine mastermind knows the market quite well, notably securing bargains like Rodri, Saul and Antoine Griezmann, among many others during his time at Atleti.
The Atleti boss also has a strong chance of fixing Arsenal’s defensive issues as he usually puts the defensive organisation ahead of anything else. Besides, he can also utilise the true potential of fullbacks like Kieran Tierney and Hector Bellerin in his defensive system that focuses a lot on the wide players.
What should Arsenal do now?
As mentioned earlier, Simeone is in no hurry to leave Atletico Madrid just yet. But, Arsenal still have a lot of options at their disposal. Mikel Arteta is already an attractive candidate, having worked with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Same can be said for Marcelino as well, who is available after being sacked by Valencia earlier in the campaign.
The former Villarreal manager might be a good idea given the fact that he can create an attacking mentality while simultaneously strengthing the club’s defence.
But, one manager they should take a chance on is Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Nuno Espirito Santo. The Portuguese has built quite the team since taking charge of Wolves in 2017, and his ability to transform a team so quickly can aid a big club like Arsenal.
