Brendan Rodgers, Patrick Vieira, Chris Wilder? The potential contenders to be Arsenal’s next manager if Unai Emery is sacked
The post-Arsene Wenger era at Arsenal isn’t quite going according to plan.
After 22 years with the same manager, the Gunners could well be appointing their second in as many seasons, as pressure continues to grow on under-fire boss Unai Emery.
Boos greeted the final whistle following the 1-1 draw with Wolves at the Emirates last Saturday, the club’s third consecutive Premier League game without a win, and they played out another uninspiring 1-1 draw on Wednesday afternoon, against Vitoria in the Europa League
Six points off the top four and 14 points adrift of leaders Liverpool, their ambitions of becoming a serious force in England football once more look unachievable right now – and the Arsenal hierarchy are understood to be considering drastic action.
According to reports, Emery may have just one month to turn things around and save his job.
Should the Gunners pull the trigger, here are five names who could potentially succeed the Spaniard.
Jose Mourinho
The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager has emerged as the favourite to become the next Arsenal boss.
Mourinho is itching to get back into football after almost a year without a job and he hasn’t been short of offers.
But, with the ‘Special One’ patiently waiting for one of the big jobs, the challenge at Arsenal certainly fits his criteria.
According to The Times, Mourinho and Arsenal head of football Raul Sanllehi had dinner together last week, although this has since been denied by the club.
Arsenal will also have to hope Mourinho doesn’t take the new vacancy at Bayern Munich if they want to appoint the 56-year-old.
Mikel Arteta
It looked almost certain that Arteta would be the man to replace Wenger in 2018, but the Gunners opted instead for Emery at the eleventh hour.
Arteta, a popular figure at the Emirates from his playing days at the club, has been Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City for the last three seasons, helping them achieve unmatched domestic success.
He is widely considered the hidden brains behind Guardiola’s remarkable side – and it’s a surprise as to why Arteta hasn’t landed a top managerial job yet.
His name will certainly be one of those linked to the Arsenal post if it becomes available.
Massimiliano Allegri
In the latter stages of Wenger’s Arsenal reign, many fans were crying out for Allegri to take over.
The former Juventus manager is currently out of a job after five successful years with the Old Lady, making him even more of a prime candidate for the role.
However, like Mourinho, the Italian is also in the running to become the next Bayern boss following the sacking of Niko Kovac.
And taking charge of an Arsenal team without Champions League football anyway may not appeal to someone of Allegri’s standing.
Patrick Vieira
The Arsenal legend – captain of the club in their famous Invincibles campaign of 2003/04 when they went the entire season unbeaten – will surely manage them one day, right? Although he probably needs to prove himself a little bit more first.
His current reign at Nice isn’t setting the world alight, with the club sitting 13th in Ligue 1 after six defeats in their opening 12 games this season.
However, Frank Lampard only had one season in management before taking over at Chelsea, and that’s turned out pretty well for him.
And Vieira also has experience of coaching at Manchester City and in America, where he spent three years as boss of New York City.
The Lampard effect at Stamford Bridge has seen the fans brought back on side, and Vieira would potentially create a similar atmosphere at Arsenal.
Brendan Rodgers
Leicester are doing exactly what Arsenal should be doing right now.
Rodgers is getting the most out of his talented squad, playing a system which suits them in both attack and defence.
Arsenal fans demand attacking football, but it’s been about 14 years since there was any defensive stability at the club.
Rodgers is a man who offers both, but would he walk away from a Leicester side currently third in the league?
Chris Wilder
Rather than the usual suspects, why not take a chance on a talented English coach?
The Englishman has been working miracles at Sheffield United for some time, guiding them from the foot of League One to SIXTH in the Premier League, just one point behind Arsenal.
And Wilder has done it in style, ripping up the narrative on the newly-promoted Blades as a negative, pragmatic proposition.
His revolutionary tactical approach, featuring overlapping centre-backs, has caught the Premier League off guard.
And Tony Cascarino reckons he deserves a crack at one of the big guns.
“Man United job, Arsenal job – Chris Wilder? Absolutely,” Cascarino said.
“There would be a snobbery around football that would go for Allegri or Mourinho. But I’m like, ‘No, I’d rather go with Chris Wilder.’”
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