Arsenal enjoyed a fantastic January transfer window, but many still believe Arsene Wenger is the one holding back the Gunners’ potential, even with a new look attack.
Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti has been mentioned as a potential replacement for the Frenchman, and here are three reasons why he would be a brilliant appointment.
#3 Not opposed to a Director of Football
Arsenal have been laying the foundations for a head coach to be purely involved in the first-team squad, with limited influence on scouting talent and negotiating contracts, having employed Head of Recruitment, Sven Mislintat, and Head of Football Operations, Raul Sanllehi.
This is perfect for Ancelotti, who has operated under this system in many previous jobs. The 58-year-old was head coach at Chelsea between 2009-2011, having little to no say on what players came in and out of the club.
It was a similar situation at Real Madrid between 2013-15, with president Florentino Perez pulling all the strings. There’s no reason why it can’t work with Arsenal too.
#2 Attack-minded philosophy in line with Arsenal’s January signings
Ancelotti has often favoured a direct playing style, getting the ball to the attackers as soon as possible, which could be ideal for Arsenal’s new-look frontline. The Gunners somehow have to fit Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang into the same XI – a job the Italian may relish.
At Real Madrid, he played a counter-attacking 4-3-3, with Angel Di Maria used as a roaming central midfielder – a role Mkhitaryan could take on under his tutelage. With the pace of Lacazette and Aubameyang, playmaker Ozil should thrive in playing defence-splitting through balls on a weekly basis.
Ancelotti isn’t one to put defence over attack either, so expect him to make the most of Arsenal’s quartet should he replace Wenger.
#1 Premier League experience should mean instant results
Let alone his experience of a head coach role and playing style lining up with Arsenal’s top-heavy squad, Ancelotti’s experience of the Premier League is the biggest reason why he’d be such a good fit.
He’s had short-term stints with Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Real Madrid, and therefore knows how to make an instant impact in such a short amount of time.
It appears the Gunners are happy to go down this route of short-termism, so who better than a serial trophy-winner (four league titles with four different clubs) like Ancelotti, who can succeed in quick time with an inherited squad?