Arsenal’s Arteta era started with much promise, with supporters applauding Arteta’s efforts to create a cultural shift. However, the relationship between Arteta and Arsenal fans have become sore in recent times due to a string of poor results. Arsenal’s 2020/21 PL opening day defeat to Brentford has only further deteriorated the fans-manager relationship. In this article, we will look at five managers who can replace Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.
#5 Paulo Fonseca
Fonseca came so close to joining Tottenham Hotspur in the summer after resigning from his Roma job. Fonseca has managed several Portuguese clubs, including Porto and Braga. In 2016, he became the manager of Shakhtar Donetsk and helped them win three consecutive domestic doubles.
However, his tenure at Roma between 2019-2021 was less than impressive. Fonseca will be able to get a lot out of Arsenal’s youngsters, but he lacks PL experience. Fonseca is also a tactical chameleon, as his teams do not have an identity on the pitch. Hence, Fonseca is arguably better suited to manage a club that does not have big demands, unlike Arsenal.
#4 Steven Gerrard
Nobody in this list understands the Premier League more than Gerrard, and this factor alone could persuade the Arsenal hierarchy to hire him. Since his retirement, Gerrard has worked as the manager of Rangers FC. In 20/21, Rangers FC won the Scottish League without losing a single game under Gerrard’s management.
In recent interviews, Gerrard has suggested that he might manage a Premier League club in the future. Gerrard could be the ideal candidate to replace Arteta as his persona alone will attract a lot of stars towards Arsenal.
#3 Lucien Favre
Arsenal currently have a lot of promising youngsters and there is no better option than Favre when it comes to coaching youngsters. Favre always pays special attention to youngsters and gives them a lot of playing time as evident during his spell at Dortmund and Gladbach.
At Borussia Mönchengladbach, he played a prominent role in Marc-Andre Ter Stegen’s rise as a world class goalkeeper. He also helped in the development of Granit Xhaka and could renew his relationship with him at Arsenal. Favre will also Arsenal fans’ longtime wish of seeing a team that is quick and flexible in the attack.
#2 Ralf Rangnick
The man who invented and popularized gegen pressing, Rangnick is affectionately called the “Professor” for his footballing intellect. Rangnick became famous after guiding 1899 Hoffenheim to the Bundesliga from German third division. In 2011, He joined Schalke and took them to the UCL semi-final.
From 2012 to 2020, Rangnick worked as the sporting director of several Red Bull footballing franchises such as Leipzig. Rangnick is a man full off exciting football philosophies, but he wants the hierarchy to give him complete freedom. That will be a tough ask at Arsenal, where the owners take all the football decisions.
#1 Antonio Conte
A serial winner and a shrewd tactician, Conte is the perfect man to replace Arteta at Arsenal. Conte won the Premier League in his very first season at Chelsea and he is capable of replicating such success at Arsenal. He will give the Arsenal team some much-needed attacking style while never compromising on defense.
Although he has won a lot of titles, Conte also has a history of fighting with the club hierarchy. He demands a lot of signings, and he is not the kind of character who will manage with any team given to him.
