Alan Smith reckons that whomever takes over from Arsene Wenger will have a pretty easy job, while comparing the current Arsenal squad to Sir Alex Ferguson’s ‘squad in decline’.

When Fergie won the Premier League in 2013 by 11 points, the year he stepped down as Manchester United manager, with a mediocre team, no one was actually shocked. Come hell or high water, Fergie knew how to get his players to win, even if he needed to throw hair dryers or get a little help from the officials.

But he left David Moyes with a shambles of a squad. Or, as former Arsenal striker, Alan Smith, says, a ‘squad in decline’.

Smith reckons that if Wenger does go at the end of this season, which is looking increasingly likely, the new manager will have a ‘plum job’ aka ‘an easy job that pays well’.

“It’s the same voice, the same methods,” Smith told Premier League Daily [via Sky Sports].

“The ‘be careful what you wish for’, I wouldn’t go along with that.

“The Manchester United situation, Sir Alex Ferguson had won the title so it was hard to take things on but it was a squad in decline and needed rebuilding.

“Arsenal need reinforcements but what a job to go into for a manager. That is a plum job, you couldn’t think of many better. They haven’t won the league for over 10 years and if you do win the league you’re a legend.”

It’s true.

Wenger has built a pretty amazing team on paper, especially if we can keep hold of the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.

He’s created a team for the future, not just a season. Ferguson won the league and then left Moyes to deal with the mediocrity.

Wenger would never do that.