The Gunners have taken the decision to sack Unai Emery. Arsenal will now go through the process of finding a new head coach to take over permanently as Freddie Ljungberg has taken charge in the interim.
Arsenal Seek New Head Coach: Who Makes the Short List?
Available Candidates
Two big names in management are currently not attached to a club. Former Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri was relieved of his duties in the summer and replaced by Maurizio Sarri. The Italian has yet to return to the game but is likely to find a top-level appointment eventually.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur took the decision to sack Mauricio Pochettino just a short while ago. He was succeeded by Jose Mourinho and is now free to listen to all suitors.
Both have top-level experience at big European clubs and both have made it to a Champions League final. Their impressive CVs have made both very attractive to Arsenal in their new head coach hunt, according to the Telegraph.
However, one seems much more likely to join the Gunners. Pochettino, of course, has ties to their fiercest rivals and has previously stated that he will never manage Barcelona or Arsenal due to his Espanyol and Tottenham ties.
This means that out of the two, Allegri is far more likely to join the north London outfit.
Premier League Options
Arsenal may find their new head coach in the Premier League. The first name on their shortlist of these options is, of course, Leciester City boss Brendan Rodgers. The Scotsman formerly took Liverpool to the brink of a league title before taking charge at Celtic.
His stay north of the border was filled with trophies, although not unexpectedly. Rodgers has now gained new attention due to his high-flying Foxes and according to the Mirror, he has made the Arsenal short list.
However, he would not come cheap. Leicester are rumoured to want £14 million for their manager. Arsenal already spent big in the summer transfer market and will have to take a hit on Emery’s remaining contract. The price tag may put them off of Brendan Rodgers.
Then there is Nuno Espirito Santo of Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Portuguese lead them to a terrific debut campaign in the top flight and has earned plaudits for his efforts. This has not gone unnoticed in north London.
Woves’ owners, however, do not wish to let their man go. The Daily Mail claims that the club will fight tooth and nail to keep their manager at the club.
Finally, Mikel Arteta is again being linked with the job of Arsenal head coach. He got an interview after Wenger left the club in 2018 but was just beat out by Unai Emery. He is still at Manchester City and the Gunners are again interested according to the Independent.
Arteta may be the easiest to get of these names as he is still an assistant. However, that also makes him the riskiest choice.
Options Abroad
Former Gunner Patrick Vieira has been in the world of management for a few years now. The former NYCFC coach now manages Nice in Ligue 1 and his ties to Arsenal mean that his name is being linked with the hunt for a new head coach.
However, according to the Mirror, he is not yet ready to leave his appointment. Instead, Vieira simply said of the links that he plans on doing his job every day but also added that, “in football, we know that things move very fast.”
Carlo Ancelotti is also linked with the job, according to the Telegraph. The Napoli boss is well-respected and should be able to do the job but the Arsenal board are said to want a new head coach who is a bit younger.
At 60 years old, Ancelotti is nearer to the end of career than the start and wouldn’t be a long-term appointment for the club to build around. Arsenal will give preferential treatment to such candidates.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
