Arsenal should twist in post-Wenger era

Change needed at Arsenal?

It seems increasingly likely that this will be Arsene Wenger’s final season as manager of Arsenal. The time has come for ‘the club’ – take that to include which individuals you will – to plan for his successor. The most likely course of action, particularly if Wenger is involved in the decision, is that they appoint a manager with a similar approach and conduct.

For example, Manuel Pellegrini encourages possession football, which may suit the creative capabilities of key man Mesut Ozil. Some of the football Manchester City played in their first season under the Chilean was excellent.

However, Pellegrini’s eventual downfall at his previous club, particularly in Europe, was his relaxed mentality. He was lenient with underperforming stars and let players make their own mistakes, an approach proven unsuitable for elite football and one that leads to disorganized setups in crunch games.

The best option, in fact, would be take appoint a manager the complete opposite of the long-serving Frenchman. Diego Simeone would be the ideal candidate should the board decide on a change in direction. Even if there are question marks about whether he would leave Atletico Madrid, a manager in the Argentine’s mould would bring advantages.

He would put an end to sloppy preparation for key games, the most recent example being last month’s capitulation at Stamford Bridge. He would stand up to players that don’t pull their weight.

This approach might come at the cost of a creative playmaker such as Ozil, but in the process, it would help build a midfield that works in tandem. The recent arrival of Mohamed Elneny, Francis Coquelin and Granit Xhaka outdates the view that Arsenal lack physicality and bite, even if none of the above yet scale the quality of the club’s historic ball-winners.

The wider change that would be required, for a Simeone-type manager to be a success, is a change in mentality. On the west side of the capital, Antonio Conte has unified a once-divided club with his raw passion and demand for nothing but the very best from his team.

In the post-Wenger era, the board could stick with the current approach that has brought good football and consistent qualification for the Champions League. The loyal, hardened supporters who pay some of the biggest ticket prices in Europe however, should demand more.

Change is required: not just from Wenger, but from the Wenger way.