Sam Allardyce claims he can improve Arsenal’s defence in a day if he is given the job
Arsenal could be playing with a much better defence within a week if Sam Allardyce is made their next manager, according to the former Everton boss.
Arsenal has had several on-field issues this season but their defence has been the team’s major headache as they struggle to keep teams at bay.
Their recent 3-0 loss at home to Manchester City shows just how bad things have become at the former Premier League winners.
Arsenal is now 9th on the league table and are just as close to the relegation places as they are to a top-four spot.
Several managers have been linked with the Arsenal job but one fan called TalkSport to drum up support for the appointment of Sam Allardyce.
Responding to that, Allardyce admitted that he would take the job and he insists that he would transform the team’s leaky defence within a day.
He, however, conceded that he would most likely not be getting the job because he isn’t as fashionable as the club would want their manager to be.
“Arsenal have lost their way at the moment,” said the former England boss on Monday’s Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast.
“They need to bond and connect as a squad, somebody needs to get in the dressing room.
“I could come and work on Arsenal’s defence and make them better tomorrow, not a problem whatsoever.
“I’ve done it everywhere I’ve been – Newcastle, Blackburn, Bolton, West Ham Crystal Palace, Everton, I’ve done it all there.
“But what you can’t do is get the front line performing that much better, you’ve got to hope you’ve got good quality players up there, and Arsenal have.”
And, asked if he would take the job if he was approached, Allardyce said: “Of course I would. I don’t know a man who wouldn’t!
“But I’m never going to be in the frame. I’m not fashionable enough for Arsenal.
“I know there’s is a reputation at the club on how you should play, but realistically when you’re struggling it’s about finding the capabilities of the players and getting them to play to those capabilities.
“I’ve always been pragmatic and have always picked a style to suit the players
“Nobody will be enjoying going in at Arsenal at the moment. It’s crisis management, you have to start making the players believe in themselves again. It’s not about what you are as a coach, it’s about what you are a man-manager, extracting the best out of the players again and breathing some confidence back into them.”
This may be controversial but Arsenal could do a lot worse than big Sam right now. Put it this way, I would much rather he gets the job than Mikel Arteta.