Imagine a scenario where Arsene Wenger was either sacked or resigned as Arsenal manager tomorrow.
I know, I know, I know, but just *imagine*…
The set up
Who could the club realistically bring in to replace him in that scenario?
We’ve all asked ourselves who our ideal Wenger replacement would be, but it’s always answered under the assumption that any top manager around Europe would be available, and would come in during the summer and have time to prepare for the season.
The football world isn’t always so convenient. Diego Simeone or Massimo Allegri aren’t going to quit their jobs at Atletico Madrid and Juventus to take over at Arsenal halfway through a season.
The good news is that there are a decent number of coaches who just happen to be out of work currently, and a few on contracts that Arsenal could buyout.
So, we took a look at the options and found the six best managers who could replace Arsene Wenger immediately.
Carlo Ancelotti
The Italian was sacked by Bayern Munich and has, naturally, been linked with just about every top job going.
Ancelotti’s laid back approach to man management didn’t suit a highly professional and experienced Bayern squad, but would probably be the closest thing this current Arsenal squad would get to another Arsene Wenger.
Fostering a strong team spirit is his main aim, and the work he did with the ego-packed squads at Chelsea and Real Madrid speaks for itself.
His lack of league titles during his extensive career is a curious anomaly, but success in Europe is almost a certainty.
Arsenal would be in safe hands with him, and perhaps get deeper into European competitions as well.
Thomas Tuchel
Tuchel was one of the most exciting managers in German football before he left Borussia Dortmund in the summer.
His Dortmund side were thrilling up front, often attacking at speed with surgical precision. Their defence, however, was porous, and doubts about his man management convinced Dortmund it was time for a change.
Still, Tuchel’s stock remains high, with reports linking him with the Bayern Munich job in the future.
His football is high risk, but would certainly bring a lot of excitement back at Arsenal.
Luis Enrique
Barcelona managers can be difficult to assess when they have one of the greatest forward lines in football available to them.
Any manager would be made to look good by the talents of Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi, but Enrique does have plenty going for him.
He was able to handle the stress and pressure that comes with managing such a huge club, and has a refreshingly frank way of dealing with the press.
His time as Celta Vigo manager perhaps highlights his greatest strengths as a manager.
His team was greater than the sum of its parts, and he was able to extract consistent performances from lesser talented players.
That approach could benefit an Arsenal squad that can, at times, appear individualistic.
Julian Nagelsmann
Arsenal’s youngest ever manager was Terry Neill, at just 34 years of age.
Should the club ever go for Hoffenheim manager Julian Nagelsmann, though, that record would be well and truly smashed.
The German is just 30 years old, and became the youngest coach in Bundesliga history when he took over at Hoffenheim aged 28.
His biggest achievement in his young career is getting Hoffenheim into the Champions League, much of which was owed to his surprising maturity and breadth of tactical knowledge.
He’s something of a tinker man, constantly changing his team’s formation in an effort to keep them stimulated.
At Arsenal, who have been entrenched in the same patterns and routine for years, he’d be a breath of fresh air.
Leonardo Jardim
The Monaco boss won the Ligue 1 title and reached the Champions League semi-final last season, with his side scoring well over a 100 goals in the process.
Before that, his Monaco were known for being pragmatic. Short of fire-power up-front, he focussed heavily on his team’s defence, and became notoriously difficult to score against.
It was this approach that knocked Arsenal out of the Champions League in 2015 and put Jardim on the map as one of Europe’s most promising coaches.
He’s demonstrated an ability to adapt to the resources he has available to him and build something outstanding, be it defensive or offensive.
Maurizio Sarri
Napoli fans weren’t keen on Sarri when he was appointed manager in 2015, but they were soon won over by his brand of snappy passing football.
Not only have Napoli grown to become genuine title contenders in Serie A, they’ve entertained many people in the process.
His approach to the game is a little more structured than Wenger’s, but the commitment to playing beautiful football remains the same.
The only thing missing from Sarri’s CV is a trophy, but at the rate his current Napoli side are going, that could change this season.