Patrick Vieira and Mikel Arteta prime targets to replace Unai Emery.
Since they fired the former PSG coach they have kept faith with Freddie Ljungberg who has been offered the position on an interim basis.
Ljungberg won his first game after three matches on Monday, but the Gunners reportedly favour two other club legends over him for the permanent position.
90Mins claims that Arsenal has made Patrick Vieira and Mikel Arteta their prime targets to become their next manager.
The report claims that Arteta could be free to get the job soon if the intense environment that Pep Guardiola has created at Manchester City continues to result in poor performances. In better words, he could be the sacrificial lamb.
Vieira has openly admitted that he would jump at the chance to manage his former side, although he insisted that he was still very much focused on his current job at Nice.
The report further claims that there is a minor division with the Arsenal board. It claims that Raul Sanllehi favours the appointment of Arteta while Edu would prefer that the club names his former teammate, Vieira as their next manager.
Arsenal is not in a hurry to name their next manager and they would hope that Ljungberg can continue doing well so they can take their time and make the best appointment.
I have to say that if this report is true it is a little underwhelming. Arsenal needs an experienced coach with a track record of not just winning trophies but also turning clubs around, not inexperienced former players.
Vierra or Arteta would be for financial reasons (if at all true) and not for football reasons. Both would be an absolute shot in the dark. If the board think they would appease the fans for going ex Arsenal players, they are wrong. It wont take many games before things get nasty again.
Emery was an experienced Manager who had won a number of trophies, yet he failed at Arsenal.Without the recruitment of a least three top quality players I very much doubt if any Manager on the planet could turn this squad into a team capable of going places.Whoever is brought in will need reassurances concerning the Clubs ambitions in terms of transfer budget and the necessary clear out which is needed.The trouble is this Board is likely to insist on the “clearances” before further recruitment is sanctioned.
Did 90min mention the source of their information? Sounds like garbage to me. In any event, whether any truth to the rumour or not, Arteta would be a much better choice.
Arteta has improved so many players at City that it’s no wonder how sought he was before starting coaching. Pochettino, Wenger, and Pep had all wanted him,but he chose Pep, which was probably smart. But what would his hire mean short-term in this mess we’re in? That’s the main doubt. Long-term he’s probably our best bet: if we can’t buy top players we have to go for the coach noted for improving players (Sterling, Sane, Bernardo Silva, etc).
If Edu really wants Vieira, he should be fired ASAP. Vieira as a manager is a 2nd rate version of Mourinho. Ljungberg and Vieira are both sentimental options, whereas Arteta would likely be a better version of Lampard (based on all the coaches he’s learned from).
I would take Ancelotti as a caretaker for 6 months now that he’s been fired. He knows the league and the language and he commands respect among top players.
Get Arteta, or Marco Rose, or Ten Hag in the summer. Nagelsmann will supposedly want to stay at Leipzig for a couple of years at least, so little chance there.
It’s a tough one. Vieira actually has experience but is in a bad moment with Nice. If Nice were higher up in the table I’d say yes immediately. Arteta really just comes with a high reputation and is a shot in the dark. But a Pep Guardiola seal of approval really is a big deal.