Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger shocked the football world on Friday morning as he announced he will step down at the end of the season. Wenger has been under increasing pressure over the last few years. Supporter protests had become commonplace at the Emirates and now many Arsenal fans will get to see a new manager takeover the club. Arsenal news has been rife with possible managers who could assume the position. The following three are considered the early favourites to manage Arsenal next season.
Arsenal news: 3 managers who could take charge at the Emirates
Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers is considered the favourite to succeed Wenger by leading sportsbooks. The current Celtic manager has experience coaching in the Premier League with Liverpool and Swansea, and he has endured European campaigns as well. Rodgers’ teams play an attacking style of football that is attractive, and it would please the Arsenal fan base. Whether the Gunners’ supporters would welcome the former Liverpool boss with open arms is the big question. Celtic have already stated they will let Arsenal speak to Rodgers about the job.
Thomas Tuchel
Long seen as the next Arsenal boss, Thomas Tuchel has fallen off the radar of many clubs following his departure from Borussia Dortmund in May 2017. Tuchel had just won the German Cup with Dortmund, but was sacked due to his strained relationship with the club’s board and longest serving players. Like Rodgers, Tuchel plays an attractive brand of football that fans will love. Was Arsenal’s signings of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan a sign that Tuchel would become the Gunners’ new manager? Perhaps.
At Dortmund, Tuchel took Jurgen Klopp’s vision and team and improved on both. However, Tuchel’s only success at Dortmund was the German Cup in 2017. Despite Arsenal supporters being high on Tuchel, it can be argued he hasn’t managed at the top-level long enough. However, the same could have been said about Wenger in 1996.
Patrick Vieira
Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira is seen as a possible replacement although he has been working within the Manchester City set-up for some time. Vieira currently manages Major League Soccer team New York City FC – who is owned by Manchester City. Of the three top candidates, Vieira has the least experience, and managing at the MLS level is far different than working in the Premier League. From finances to tactics to player selection, the leagues cannot be compared.
Vieira has turned NYCFC into one of MLS’s best teams over the last 18 months. In three seasons with NYCFC, Vieira has compiled a 43.24% win rate. The club finished second overall in MLS in terms of points in 2017. NYCFC are the only undefeated MLS team this season after seven matches, securing 17 points – the most in the league.
Arsenal news – other notable candidates:
Other notable candidates are being considered, including Joachim Loew, Carlo Ancelotti, Luis Enrique and Rafael Benitez.
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