Steve McClaren has tipped Eddie Howe to bring his style of play to the Emirates, before claiming he could be one of a number of new coaches to bring a more fluid style into the game.
The Bournemouth manager has been praised for the style of football which he has blessed upon his Cherries side, and is amongst the favourites to take over from Arsene Wenger when he finally gives up the helm.
Steve McClaren has gone a step further to claim the English coach could well lead the division into a new breed of playing style, praising his ability to create fluid playing systems.
“It may take five years, even 10 but I can see it happening,” said McClaren. “And Eddie Howe could be the standard-bearer.
“I’ve followed his career – we had a few good battles against Bournemouth when I was at Derby – and he is one of them who sets up his teams to play football.
“Building from the back, completing attacks, working hard to win the ball back, pressing opponents – he has that mentality.
“He could be an Arsenal manager. I can certainly see that.”
The former England boss added that the next breed of elite manager’s may well still be learning their trades.
“It could be someone we haven’t even heard of yet,” says the man who was Sir Alex Ferguson’s No. 2 when Manchester United won the Treble in 1999.
“They could be working in an academy right now.
“I firmly believe a new breed of manager is coming through.
“They won’t necessarily be ex-players but they’ll be well educated in footballing terms.
“The coaching courses now are far better than they were back in the day and the academies aren’t just producing players who are tactically and technically better than their predecessors but coaches who are too.”
Is Howe the man that could lead the charge in changing English football once again? Do Arsenal need to assure they lead the chase for his signature?
Pat J