Succeeding Wenger - The Italian Touch

[NotThatStevieG]

Arsene Wenger to retire as Arsenal manager

View attachment 105736

Arsene Wenger will step down as Arsenal manager at the end of the season
​

after 21 years in charge.
​

​

The Frenchman, 67, has won 15 trophies during his reign at the Emirates and will now become a director for the club.
His haul includes 3 league titles including an unbeaten season, 6 FA Cups and 6 Community Shields.

"The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about. It is the right time, I have given my life to this club and now I would like it back. The events of the weekend bore some thought into my choice, and with the growing competitiveness in the league I felt the club has a great opportunity to evolve." Wenger said. The decision comes following a 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge to Chelsea

Bournemouth's Eddie Howe is the bookmakers' favourite to take over, with Massimiliano Allegri, currently at Juventus, also tipped.

BBC sports editor Dan Roan says Arsenal are confident of announcing a successor to Wenger by the end of the season, with an expected amount of diligence.

He believes they are looking for someone who understands the club's history and is committed to youth development while employing an attractive, attacking style of football.

It is believed however that Wenger has declined involvement in the choice of his successor.​

 

[NotThatStevieG]

The Big Three Candidates

Massimiliano Allegri
View attachment 105732
View attachment 105734
Allegri tends to play a 5-3-2 with Juventus, it's plausible that this side would need a left wing back to complete a side capable of playing this formation. Mustafi and Koscielny are guaranteed starters at centre back, with the option to play Gabriel or Holding or bring in a new central defender of equal quality. Alexis Sanchez is more than capable of playing at centre forward alongside a target man in Olivier Giroud. The formation does sacrifice the use of wingers, so Allegri could possibly retrain Oxlade-Chamberlain as a centre midfielder, Iwobi as a wing back and move on Theo Walcott. And what to do with Mesut Ozil?

Diego Simeone
View attachment 105731
View attachment 105730
Diego Simeone would bring an alternative style of play, with an emphasis on defence and counter attacking football - something not seen at Arsenal since the Invincibles. Arguably, little reinforcement would be needed with capable players at every position although it may be time to look for a new Santi Cazorla.

Eddie Howe
View attachment 105729
View attachment 105728
Eddie Howe has been linked with the Arsenal job in the past, and indeed he would be a perfect fit to continue Arsene Wenger's work. His nobly expansive, short-passing game continually leaves his team far too open defensively and, rarely exerting serious pressure on the ball, his team is not compact or resilient enough to prevent opponents from walking through their brittle midfield.



Vote!


​

 

[NotThatStevieG]

The Outsiders

Thomas Tuchel
View attachment 105670
View attachment 105667
Tuchel has gained plenty of plaudits for making Dortmund one of the most watchable sides on the continent – as their 8-4 win over Legia Warsaw highlighted – and his task at Arsenal would be to do likewise.
It would involve playing wide, a high tempo and giving his players freedom to express themselves. His tactics do involve the concession of goals, but with the attacking talent at his disposal - outscoring his opponents shouldn't be difficult.

Patrick Vieira

View attachment 105661
​

Players have lauded Vieira as being able to say the right things to motivate the team and keep their mentality strong. Vieira does bring an interesting dimension as a coach — having just turned 40 a month ago, he is close in age to many of his players and he has been coached by greats like Arsene Wenger and Roberto Mancini. Across MLS managers, Vieira has been perhaps the most flexible in terms of changing formations and trying unorthodox or less popular formations as opportunity arises. He has been a proponent of a three-man back line at times to bolster NYCFC’s attack and overwhelm opposing defenses, which has given his attackers opportunities to succeed. That he has been willing to shake things up is what makes NYCFC an unpredictable team to go up against this season.

Ralph Hasenhutti
View attachment 105660
View attachment 105659In keeping with your Arsenal's request to play attacking football, in line with his feats at Leipzig could see the employment of a free-flowing 4-2-2-2 system as his default.
There are plenty of exciting options on either flank, with Alex Iwobi, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and Jeff Reine-Adelaide vying for places in the side – while the likes of Olivier Giroud, Lucas Perez and Chuba Akpom can be called upon in attack.




Remember to vote!



​

 

[NotThatStevieG]

What will the new man inherit?
LEAGUE FINISH
View attachment 105656
The Gunners finished in third place, an impressive feat considering the competition faced but it is arguable the North London club could have done considerably better in the face of inconsistent opposition. The Gunners own inconsistency allowed Chelsea to comfortably take the title, and the mantle as London's best club.

EFL CUP
View attachment 105654
The Gunners failed to escape the third round, with defending Premier League champions Leicester tearing apart the Arsenal defence in the first half to win 3-2.

FA CUP
View attachment 105653
The Gunners faced Football League opposition up to the quarter final, relying on penalties to beat Bournemouth and secure a trip to Wembley. A series of lacklustre performances bar the Bristol game concluded with a semi final defeat to arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur, denying Wenger his most prolific trophy victory.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
View attachment 105652
The Gunners had a rampant group stage, going unbeaten in a block including Barcelona. This included a memorable 2-1 away victory at the Nou Camp. Despite finishing seven points clear of the Catalan side and earning a fairly comfortable draw to Napoli, the Gunners knockout woes continued in poor fashion and saw elimination 2-1 on aggregate.​

 

[NotThatStevieG]

View attachment 105563​

View attachment 105564

 

[NotThatStevieG]

View attachment 105551View attachment 105550

Arsenal appoint Allegri as manager
The Italian has signed an initial three year contract to replace Arsene Wenger
​

Allegri, 49, accepted the role with the North London club despite winning both the Serie A and Champions League in his final season with Juventus.

He brings with him his assistants Marco Landucci, Aldo Docetti and Simone Foletti and has signed a contract reportedly worth up to £7m a year.

Allegri has said in an interview with Arsenal Player that the prospect of succeeding Arsene Wenger lured him to the job. "Domestically, he was the master." He said. "He won the league without losing a game and kept the team competitive with limited resources. He has left the club in a fantastic state and deserves a statue for revolutionising this team."

Allegri beat off strong competition from Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe, who was interviewed for the job and looked close to being offered the job before Allegri declared interest in the position.



​

 

[NotThatStevieG]

Transfers IN
With Allegri's title winning tactic at Juventus a 5-3-2, the transfer window was vital in building a squad capable of playing this formation effectively. And so it was..

Emre Can
View attachment 105546


Filling the role of his German counterpart Sami Khedira, Emre Can joins us from Liverpool for a fee of £36.5 million pounds. Can should make the regista role his own and has all the qualities to be a world beater.

Daniele Rugani
View attachment 105545
Rugani follows Allegri from Juventus and with Per Mertesacker retiring from professional football to join the Arsenal coaching ranks, Rugani fills the third centre half spot in the 5-3-2 and along with Can should be a starter for seasons to come.

Jose Gaya
View attachment 105544
With Kieran Gibbs off to Stoke, the club needed a player capable of playing at wing back. After a failed attempt to sign Juan Bernat, Jose Gaya made for a fine second choice and at just £20 million has resale value and bursting potential alongside Spanish counterpart Hector Bellerin.

Antonio Rudgier
View attachment 105543
Rudgier found himself unhappy at AS Roma and available for just £8.25 million was quickly snapped up by Arsenal's new transfer team of Allegri and Director of Football Fabio Paratici. Rudgier has high potential and takes the squad position left behind by Gabriel Paulista.

Antoine Griezmann
View attachment 105542
Smashing the club's transfer record, the £81 million pound man joins the club. Griezmann scored eighteen league goals last season to help Atletico to the top three in La Liga. After a change of scenery, the Gunners evaded competition from Manchester City and Real Madrid to sign the Frenchman with a pay packet of £200,000 a week.

Yaya Toure
View attachment 105541
Needing backup in defensive midfield, Yaya Toure's contract at Manchester City had come to an end and at a respectable £22,000 a week the Ivorian will fill a squad role used to tutor young players and come into the side when needed during his one year contract.

Gulliermo Ochoa
View attachment 105540
With the decision made to sell Emiliano Martinez to Middlesbrough for the good of his career, Ochoa comes in from Malaga to fill the third choice goalkeeper spot and for just £8,250 a week makes little impact on the wage budget.

Moussa Dembele
View attachment 105539
After a prolific season in Scotland, Dembele made the journey back down south to London to join the Gunners. For just £8 million, the Frenchman has high potential and under the tutelage of Alexis Sanchez and Antoine Griezmann can score bags of goals for seasons to come.

Mauro Icardi
View attachment 105538
With the departures of Lucas Perez, Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck, the club needed firepower up front to compliment Alexis and Griezmann. The Italian did not come cheap and arguably £60 million is an overpayment. However, the Italian comes with a guarantee of goals and under Allegri is primed to add to his tally and propel the Gunners to the Premier League title.

​

 

[Rick1990]

Great signings! Paid a lot for some players, but you're going to need them! Good luck with Arsenal

 

[Average Joe]

Only just seen this, was really well written and layed out, are you going to continue?