After Arsenal capitulated in Munich last night, talk once again turned to Arsene Wenger with many believing the Frenchman’s time is up.

The Gunners manager has previously stated that he’ll make a decision on his future in the summer, while the Arsenal board have confirmed that a two year contract offer remains on the table.

But with the side still making the same mistakes and struggling to compete in the Champions League and challenge for the Premier League title, the time could be right for Wenger to say au revoir to the Gunners after serving over twenty years at the club.

If this is indeed the beginning of the end, then who can come in and replace the Arsenal legend?

Well here are five men that might just be in the frame:

MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI 

The current Juventus coach seems to have a golden touch.

He managed to win his first Serie A with an ageing AC Milan side in 2011. He would then takeover at Juve from Antonio Conte and has won two Italian league titles in a row plus two Coppa Italia trophies. Currently enjoys a 70% win ratio with the Vecchia Signora.

The forty-nine year old has also done well in the Champions League, guiding them to the final in 2015 before losing to Barcelona. Has managed to do well in replacing top talents like Andrea Pirlo, Alvaro Morata and Paul Pogba and maintaining success.

His team are well drilled and disciplined, traits Arsenal have been missing as of late.

Would be an ideal candidate, especially if he can replicate Conte’s success in England.

But would he want to leave Juve?

Recently he had this to say about his future:

“I hope there are another 300 or 400 games as I am happy at Juventus,”

Best odds on him being the new Arsenal manager are priced at 5/1.

EDDIE HOWE

Wenger clearly admires Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe and his managerial qualities. He showed his trust in Howe by loaning him Jack Wilshere for the season last summer.

The young Englishman would buck the trend if he managed to get the Gunners job as the top English sides prefer to recruit foreign coaches.

Howe has managed to take AFC Bournemouth from League One to the Premier League and they’ve done that with a nice attacking style. He also on the LMA manager of the year award in 2015.

The thirty-nine year old is driven and clearly ambitious, so you’d imagine that he’d jump at the chance to manage Arsenal. For Howe, it’s all about the team pulling together and getting the best from everyone.

Confident in himself and his ideas, he’s also a player friendly boss and able to deal with the media without much fuss.

Certainly the best option out there if Arsenal are looking for a homegrown coach. But Eddie Howe has to make sure that the Cherries stay clear of a relegation battle this term.

Best odds on him being the new Arsenal manager are priced at 11/2.

PATRICK VIEIRA

The current New York City FC manager knows everything there is to know about Arsenal. The former Gunners midfielder captained the side and helped them to three league titles and four FA Cups.

Many have stated that one of Arsene’s biggest mistakes has been the fact that he could never find someone to replace Vieira, who left in 2005.

Has a 40% win ratio in his only year in charge in the Big Apple and managed big names like Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo and David Villa.

Still extremely inexperienced as a manager, he only had a short spell as Man City’s reserve team coach before his move to America.

Would be viewed as a sentimental appointment and will only be considered if the Arsenal board want to replace a legend with another club icon.

Best odds on him being the new Arsenal manager are priced at 16/1.

LEONARDO JARDIM 

Arsene Wenger made his managerial name at AS Monaco and their current gaffer could now be catching Arsenal’s eye.

Jardim has already tasted success at the Emirates, after his Monaco side defeated Arsenal 3-1in the Champions League back in 2015. He also guided his team to victories home and away against Gooner rivals  Tottenham Hotspur this season.

Monaco are currently leading the Ligue 1 championship and are still in the Champions League, that is a great feat for Jardim. His side like to attack, he has no problem playing youngsters and getting the best out of them.

Unlike Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal, Leonardo has managed to get Radamel Falcao up and scoring again.

He might only be forty-two years old but he’s already been a manager for over a decade. Before Monaco, he also enjoyed stints at Olympiacos and Sporting Lisbon.

Best odds on him being the new Arsenal manager are priced at 14/1.

DIEGO SIMEONE 

The Argentine has had great success upsetting the odds and ruffling plenty of feathers since becoming a manager in 2006.

More pragmatic than other candidates, Simeone demands results. He has created a wonderful CV at Atletico Madrid where he’s managed to compete against Real Madrid and Barcelona.

At the Vicente Calderón he has managed to secure one La Liga title, a Copa del Rey and two Champions League final appearances. Currently has an impressive win ratio of 62%.

While he does make defences strong and efficient, Diego is also able to get more from his forwards and make sure that they work for the team. A player like Alexis Sanchez would be ideal in a Simeone team!

Atleti haven’t been quite as strong this term and you get the feeling Simeone could be ready to leave and try his luck elsewhere.

The Argentine took the unusual step of shortening his contract and is due to depart in the summer of 2018. It could be quite possible for him to leave beforehand if the right job became available.

I’d imagine he’d love a move to England and challenge the likes of Mourinho, Pochettino, Conte, Guardiola and Klopp.

Best odds on him being the new Arsenal manager are priced at 25/1.

(All odds taken at time of writing)

Posted on February 16th, 2017 by scott
Filed under: Article