The BBC have reported that Sporting Director Monchi has followed former coach Eusebio di Francesco out the door at AS Roma.

The Spaniard’s departure from the Serie A club could be music to the ears of Premier League side Arsenal, as The Gunners are on the lookout for a new Sporting Director themselves.

The reasoning behind linking Monchi to Arsenal are all the stronger when you think of the success he had at Sevilla alongside head coach Unai Emery, who is now obviously working as Arsenal’s current boss.

So let’s say Monchi gets the job at the Emirates, what would the former goalkeeper turned football administrator need to do in his new job? 

Well he’ll probably be asked to replicate his success he had in Spain.

During their time together at Sevilla, Monchi and Emery worked like a well oiled machine and helped  Los Hispalenses to claim three Europa League titles. Monchi clearly knew what type of player suited Emery’s style of play.

In fact during Monchi’s time at the club, Sevilla would secure five Europa Leagues and two Copa del Rey triumphs.

Monchi garnered a large network of scouts and that allowed the Spanish club to bring in some cheap foreign imports like Dani Alves, Ivan Rakitic and Julio Baptista before selling them on for a huge profit!

The Sporting Director also helped in getting the youth set-up to flourish and that allowed the La Liga side to promote great prospects like Sergio Ramos, Jesus Navas and former Gooner Jose Antonio Reyes. Once again Sevilla were able to develop these talents before eventually selling them for big fees.

At Arsenal his scouting network and his contact book could become essential, especially if they don’t have a large transfer budget to play with. According to The Mirror, Unai Emery will only have £4om to spend if the North London club can’t secure a spot in next season’s Champions League.

Monchi was known to working with tight budgets at Sevilla, so he could be the man to get the most out of any potential modest budget Arsenal may have in the summer.

At the Gunners, Monchi will need to bring in at least three, possibly four, new players ready for the first team.

A new left-back looks likely what with Nacho Monreal not getting any younger and Sead Kolasinac not being the best defensively.

There are still issues at centre-back. I think that Emery would want a younger centre-back that’s easy with the ball at his feet and who possess some pace.

The right-wing position has been one that’s given the Arsenal boss headaches all year. They really need to find a player that can naturally play on that flank and give the team balance, plus add goals and assists to the starting eleven.

Then the Gunners might also need a new attacking midfielder. We already know that Aaron Ramsey is leaving the Emirates for Juventus in the summer.

Mesut Ozil’s position within the squad seems to be in doubt too.

The German has been left out by Emery numerous times during this campaign. Unai clearly doesn’t trust Mesut when it comes to working to team instructions in the bigger games. Ozil may have only just signed a new longterm, large contract last year but he’s fast becoming a distraction that doesn’t do enough throughout a season.

Any potential new Sporting Director’s biggest task could be solving the Ozil problem.

Can they find a buyer that can afford the former German international’s wage and that Mesut will agree to join? It’s a big ask!

If Monchi were to arrive at the London club, then he’d also need to do a better job in tying down the star players to longer deals.

All too often in the last decade Arsenal have lost great players due to their contracts being allowed to rundown just before their peak years. The club’s administration has to be run better.

If Monchi is to join Arsenal, then the Gunners will hope that he can help return them to glory but at the same time make the football side of the business more profitable.

The Spaniard has history of doing it at Sevilla but can he replicate that successful formula in the Premier League? Well that is the multi million dollar question!

Posted on March 8th, 2019 by scott
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