Op Ed: Who should be the next coach of Arsenal FC?

Earlier today, Arsene Wenger announced that he will be stepping down as head coach of Arsenal FC at the end of the season. After many years of some supporters calling for his resignation, Wenger has finally decided that the time has come to part ways with the team he has coached for almost his entire managerial career.

The main reason why people were out for blood over the last few seasons was due to the lack of motivation seen from far too many Arsenal players on the field. As any fan or player will attest, it is difficult to win games if the team isn’t galvanized and working together for a common goal. Many blamed this failure on the manager. Moreover, the past couple of seasons have brought an end to some staple Arsenal commodities, namely their presence in the prestigious Champions League.  This, paired with an ever evolving game, meant that Wenger’s time at the helm was always coming to an end if he did not evolve his coaching method equally as fast, which he did not. It is a shame to see a fantastic coach leave on a low point, however he could yet propel Arsenal back into the Champions League by winning the Europa League. A final hurrah if you will. Let’s hope for Arsene’s sake that he is successful.

As someone who began supporting the Gunners during the latter part of Wenger’s reign, I am perhaps not the best person to argue with about Wenger’s ability as a coach. I wasn’t even born when he took over the club, and was not a supporter during the “Invincible” years where the club didn’t lose a game all season. The only Wenger I know has been the one where the decline in his coaching has been easy to see. Poor teamsheets, sloppy tactics, and bad purchases, are all things that I have witnessed Wenger do over the years, that have just dug himself an ever bigger hole and made fans everywhere angry. Emotions run high in the soccer world, arguably higher than in any other sport. The jubilation felt as a fan when one’s team wins a trophy is one that is quite special, yet with the exception of a couple of FA Cups and Community Shields, I have never felt this as an Arsenal fan. This is something that a new coach must strive for. Arsenal FC is a club with a great history and much success. It is time to bring trophies back to North London.

Due to the fact that I am not mourning Wenger like many, I have decided to use this time to suggest some managerial appointments that Arsenal could make, or rather, those that they shouldn’t. Firstly, a prerequisite for becoming coach of a club like Arsenal should be experience managing at a fairly high level. Despite Zinedine Zidane’s success at Real Madrid as a rookie coach, they are playing well below what they are capable of, and Zidane has made some huge errors in his first couple of seasons. Moreover, coaching Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates is a lot different to coaching Jack Wilshere and getting success out of players who haven’t had glory in a while, if ever. Sorry Thierry Henry, but as much as I’d love to see you coaching Arsenal, you cannot make rookie mistakes at a club like the Gunners. Wenger only began making mistakes a few years ago, and he was crucified by the fans. With some experience coaching, Henry could very quickly become one of the greatest coaches that ever lived. I look forward to seeing his growth.

I also believe that there is no British manager that could bring anything to the club, with the exception perhaps being Bournemouth coach Eddie Howe. Arsenal need someone that is open to new interpretations of the game, and is not stuck in old ways, for the game is changing constantly. Howe is likely the only British coach young enough to have these values. Men like Mark Hughes, Sam Allardyce, and Tony Pulis, while all decent coaches, are definitely not what Arsenal needs. These men would bring stability; Arsenal need a spark. Whilst on the subject of British coaches, one Brendan Rodgers has improved drastically as a manager since heading north of the border to coach Celtic. This is not to say that I believe him to be a good fit for Arsenal, but I would not be shocked to see him back in the Premier League soon.

Since Arsenal should then seek a foreign coach, there are a few different things to sort out. As mentioned, the team unquestionably needs a man to inject life into them. However, before this selection can be made, it is important to decide on the type of soccer that the club wants to be known for. Whilst this is typically a decision made by the coach, with such a massive change that will be occurring at the club, Arsenal need to identify this first. A coach like Jurgen Klinsmann or Jochim Low would be fantastic for German styles of play, featuring a big striker and a classic 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 formation, however they would not be ideal for a Spanish, passing oriented, possession based tactic. More and more teams are also switching to playing three at the back, with two wing backs to support the attack as well as defend at times of need. Should Arsenal select to go with the trend, they will need a coach who not only knows this system well, but also someone who is savvy in the transfer market, as arguably none of their current defenders on the roster will have any success playing this way. Coaches such as Thomas Tuchel, Jurgen Klopp, and Domenico Tedesco are all coaches who are fairly young, experienced with a variety of playing styles, and are knowledgeable enough about the game to make well thought out, quality signings in the transfer windows. 

I should add, that I do not believe that success cannot be claimed with the current squad, as I am often critical of the Manchester clubs spending billions each year, essentially creating a completely new roster each season. However, to achieve this success, a new coach will need to be unique, passionate, and not afraid to tell it how it is. The coach would need to be more animated on the sideline, which Wenger wasn’t enough, and change tactics, in game, when needed. Oh, and he would most definitely need to not wait until the 75th minute to make his first substitution. Coaches who could bring this passion to the dugout that has been lacking in recent time include Diego Simeone or even Antonio Conte. 

Again, these opinions are just that: opinions. I don’t particularly fancy any of the aforementioned men for the job, barring perhaps Simeone. Moreover, I believe that there needs to be a much larger change at the club, one way bigger than just the head coach. Arsenal need to identify what they are aiming for. Are they just striving for Champions League soccer, or do they want to win the league? Are they happy with just being successful in the cup competitions playing mediocre opponents, or do they want to compete with the big guns like the old days? Do they want to be known for creating fantastic young players, or do they want to throw money away to create a team for the short term? All of these questions need to be answered before appointing a coach, for there would be a better coach for each different strategy or pathway. However, there is one thing that will forever be a constant at the Emirates. One thing that the new manager must conquer. The fans. 

Arsenal fans are truly special. They are passionate about the game, and their team. They are not afraid to crucify a coach or a player at any moment. Miss a 1-on-1 chance, you will be booed. Make a poor substitution, you will be notified straight away. This is why coaching in North London is so difficult, and also why the next man at the helm must be strong, confident, passionate, and as dedicated as his predecessor was in his hay day. 

When Klopp was vying with Carlo Ancelotti for the Liverpool job, they were both asked what Liverpool needed for success. Whilst Ancelotti answered new players, Klopp said that “we must win over the fans.” A club is only as big as its’ fans and support. Results will come from confidence and cheers from the stands, just as easily as they will come from splashing the cash on new players or coaches. Ancelotti even added, after losing out to Klopp, that “they made the right appointment in Klopp. He is a good manager. With the best managers you see their identity in their team. Klopp’s Dortmund team had a very strong identity.” This is what Arsenal need. An identity. A vision. And a visionary at the helm. Let’s just hope for the sake of the game that Arsenal reach the stardom they once had through the new appointment. Only time will tell.