With Unai Emery’s eventual sacking last Friday, Arsenal are currently in search of a new Head Coach. Our objectives for the season remain that we must qualify to play in the Champions League for next season but in order to achieve this; our performances, and ultimately results, must improve drastically. Having lost the game to Brighton at home last night, it’s not only just a winless run of seven games in the Premier League, it also means we’re currently 10th in the table. We’re in very big trouble and we need someone to steady the ship. To do that, they need to make sure Rose falls in love with Jack, Captain Birdseye stays focused behind the ship’s wheel, and they avoid plummeting into the fucking huge iceberg. Our once titanic club is in danger of sinking to the bottom of the ocean… unless we find a saviour.
The club have placed their faith in club legend Freddie Ljungberg as interim Head Coach until they make a decision on appointing a manager permanently. As much as I love Freddie, and I’m fairly sure most fans do for the great success he has helped provide the club in years gone by. Sadly, I think he’s out of his depth here and this job might be a bit too soon in terms of his management aspirations. I fear the longer he’s left in this position, I’m afraid it will tarnish his illustrious legacy.
At the moment there are a selection of possible candidates touted by the media as the four main favourites. The hot picks, if you will, are Mikel Arteta, Massimiliano Allegri, Nuno Espirito Santo, and Mauricio Pochettino. Considering the appointment of Emery last year fell under the radar of the media and fans, I will compile a list of other possibilities to take the Gunners hotseat in a separate article. Here’s a closer examination of Massimiliano “Max” Allegri and what he would bring as Head Coach of Arsenal.
The first question posed to Arsenal fans when discussing the possibility of Allegri coming in as Head Coach is; how important is the Arsenal ideology, imprinted by Arsene Wenger, to the way we play football? Would we be happy with just winning games at all costs? From someone who has stated on many occasions that “he doesn’t care for the aesthetic side of it at all”, we as fans might have to adjust by tearing down ‘the house that Wenger built’. Although, after Emery’s unsuccessful stint as manager, Arsenal have slightly lost an identity altogether. Whether it be that we’re missing an offensive or defensive style, through default, we’re now at a stage of restarting from scratch.
In comparison to all other candidates, Allegri brings the more pragmatic approach to football. However, at the same time, he’s also won the most trophies compared to the others. Bringing a champion’s mentality back to Arsenal is important to contributing toward an element of pride, and esteem, in which this club has gradually lost over the years. It’s something the fans cling onto and demand at all times; through good or bad times.
It’s a fairly safe bet to say Allegri would come in and improve the team defensively; whether that be through enhancing what is already there in the squad, or through recruitment. I think we would see a very different type of player coming through the door than what we’ve become accustomed to lately. Arsenal fans, myself included, have been crying out for commanding leaders to play for the team once more. It’s common knowledge that we’ve never really replaced the likes of Tony Adams, Sol Campbell, or Patrick Vieira. Under Allegri, generals such as Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli, and Georgio Chiellini, were all pivotal to the top flight success enjoyed in his time at Juventus. You’d imagine, and expect Arsenal to bring in players of that ilk, were he to take the helm at The Emirates.
With Allegri’s defensive approach to football, it’s natural to make comparisons to how Jose Mourinho sets up his teams. The similarities in an aesthetic and tactical sense are clear, but it’s the differences in personalities, which make more of an impression to me. Jose is someone who often cuts a lonely, dishevelled figure when things don’t go his way, which have contributed to the many colossal meltdowns of football clubs he’s experienced under his management. The charm offensive, almost always, loses its effect after a year or two in for the Portuguese coach. Something I’ve heard on a regular basis, from the media and from Juventus fans, is how much of a true gentleman Allegri is perceived to be. Although reports mention how arrogant he came across to the Arsenal board in previous interviews, I have the feeling he would represent an element of class toward the media, and ultimately, the fans. We’ve missed an element of sophistication, and class, since the departure of Wenger.
In terms of a likelihood rating for his appointment, I’d give him a 7 out of 10. I think it’s likely that we’d consider him for his experience, pedigree, and the fact he’s available (if he’s willing to come out of his sabbatical, that is). However, his lack of English, apparent arrogance, the fact he has no Premier League experience, and that he’s also stated many times that he wishes to retire from football management in 3 years’ time, at the age of 55, could all go against him becoming the next Arsenal manager.
Were he to be appointed, I’d rate Allegri’s chances of success an 8 out of 10. I think it would take him time to marshal the team, especially the defence, by having to rely on a couple of transfer windows, but I think we would show signs of progression toward a much tighter, organised, and effective style of winning football.
The Highbury Daze 