- Arsenal have to think bigger with replacing Arsene Wenger
- Rumours today link the likes of Brendan Rodgers with the Gunners job
- Here’s our suggestion for five bigger names Arsenal should go after
- MORE: Bid made: Arsenal and Tottenham face fight to seal £50million transfer
- MORE: Arsenal put together four-man manager shortlist as Arsene Wenger’s position under greater threat than ever
Arsenal have today been linked with four potential candidates to replace Arsene Wenger as manager next season as the club plan to review the current boss’ position.
It’s been another nightmarish campaign at the Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners feeble in defeat to Manchester City at the weekend as another trophy slipped away from them as they went down 3-0 in the Carabao Cup final.
Arsenal look in urgent need of change and have done for some time, but it will take someone pretty special to turn things around at a club that has largely been sleepwalking through mediocrity for much of the last decade.
The Daily Mirror have claimed that the four names on Arsenal’s radar at the moment are Leonardo Jardim, Brendan Rodgers, Joachim Low and Mikel Arteta.
With respect to the four names mentioned, none are exactly going to blow fans away and it’s debatable if any of them are truly up to the size of the challenge waiting in north London.
Here’s our alternative list of big truly elite names Arsenal should show some ambition and go after instead…
Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid)
A superb managerial mind and strict disciplinarian with an eye for organisation and detail when it comes to defending, Diego Simeone seems the ideal response to Wenger’s reign.
The Argentine would add some much-needed steel and resilience to this squad, and has shown with Atletico Madrid that he doesn’t need a huge transfer budget with which to work miracles.
Against the financial might of Real Madrid and Barcelona, Simeone led Atletico to the La Liga title in 2013/14 as well as two Champions League finals. You’d have to think he would have an even easier time of things making it work with a club of Arsenal’s resources.
Massimiliano Allegri (Juventus)
A slightly underrated figure in the game due to being seen as simply picking up where Antonio Conte left off at Juventus, there can be no doubting Massimiliano Allegri’s quality.
The Italian tactician has helped turn around Juve’s fortunes in Europe and arguably has the club playing a more attractive brand of football than under Conte, taking them to the next level in their status as a European super-power.
Of course, it’s a different task altogether at Arsenal, but to think like a member of the elite you need someone from that elite in charge, so Allegri could well be that man.
Antonio Conte (Chelsea)
Reports of his departure have plagued Antonio Conte throughout his second season at Chelsea, and Arsenal should be following with interest.
The 48-year-old hit the ground running in English football last season, turning largely the same Chelsea squad that finished 10th the year before into runaway Premier League champions and FA Cup finalists.
Conte is another hugely demanding and obsessive coach who would fix numerous problems with concentration and desire at Arsenal, and if he does become available they should absolutely pounce for an appointment that could really make their rivals regret not showing more faith in him.
Luis Enrique (Unattached)
A treble winner with Barcelona, Luis Enrique is available next season and could be another fine appointment for Arsenal.
As with Allegri, questions will be asked of his ability to work with a squad not containing world class talent in every position, but the Spaniard earned the Barca job after impressive spells in charge of Roma and Celta Vigo.
Mundo Deportivo did recently link Enrique with Arsenal, and they could certainly do far worse than appoint a man who’s won major trophies and could attract big-name players to work under him at the Emirates Stadium.
Carlo Ancelotti (Unattached)
Finally, Carlo Ancelotti is another big name who’s currently available and who’d surely be worth a punt despite some recent struggles.
The Italian shone in his time in the Premier League with Chelsea, though he’s since not done too well in terms of meeting high expectations with wealthy super-clubs like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Still, Arsenal would love a proven Champions League winner at the helm and Ancelotti’s commitment to stylish attacking football would also go down well in north London.
