I’ve been an Arsenal fan for as long as I can remember and I always want the best for my club. In recent weeks it’s become increasingly obvious that we need a ‘changing of the guard’ at our club to move forward. Not once have I been a ‘Wenger Out!’ merchant, but I am also a believer that all good things must come to an end and that things have to change to allow for evolution.
As with our ‘friends’ up in Manchester (United), it’s fantastic to buck the trend in today’s magic roundabout of club management and keep a leader in the hot seat for 20+ years, but sooner or later we have to say our thank yous and farewells to our great leader. We will be eternally grateful to Arsene for what he has done for our club, but a growing number of us are beginning to feel his tenure is fast approaching its sad, but necessary, end. The place needs a new face and maybe (like Arsene did) some much needed new ideas.
The reason for my article is, I cannot understand why we haven’t learnt from Man United’s mistake of believing you can replace such an iconic figure within your football club overnight! Sir Alex Ferguson and Wenger both had very different approaches to management, but ultimately their legacies at their respective clubs are strikingly similar. Therefore, why are the board and coaching staff at Arsenal not bringing in a ‘No.2’ to Wenger now (or even 18 months ago) with the view of making them the manager once the imminent departure of Wenger finally comes round?
Manchester United have realised that you cannot just bring a new face in and expect things to carry on as normal, no matter what their current reputation or potential may be. My fear is if Arsenal follow United’s lead, our club will go the same way, and have to take three steps backwards before stabilising and competing for major honours once again.
I appreciate that the so called ‘big names’ in management will not sit in alongside Arsene for a year or so awaiting their time to come, but an up and coming coach (i.e a Dennis Bergkamp, a Patrick Vieira… a Thierry Henry) surely would. In this way, the players will be used to their face around the training ground and on match days, and over the course of time they can bring their own coaching ideas and philosophies into the club. This way the transition of management would undoubtably be smoother and ultimately cause less upheaval to the club and ultimately the team.
Maybe this is in the club’s plans for Wenger’s final year of his contract (next season), but I for one would have liked to have seen it sooner! Only time will tell.
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