Arsenal could finally sack Arteta to hire “football’s next elite manager”

Arguably for the first time in his Arsenal career, Mikel Arteta is feeling the pressure.

Just three weeks ago, the Gunners had hopes of winning a famous quadruple. However, they were defeated against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, exited the FA Cup at the hands of Championship side Southampton and are now floundering in the Premier League.

The north Londoners are still top of the league and hold a nine point advantage prior to Manchester City’s clash with Chelsea, but Arsenal’s dismal performance against Bournemouth in the context of their two other recent defeats has raised alarm bells.

The 2-1 loss to the Cherries on Saturday was not fatal, but if Man City continue their fine form and beat Arsenal next Sunday, it could well be.

The fact of the matter is that it is no longer in Arsenal’s hands. If Pep Guardiola’s side win all of their remaining matches, they will lift the title. It has subsequently put huge pressure on Arteta.

What’s going wrong for Arteta at Arsenal?

When Arteta first arrived at Arsenal at the back end of 2019, the Spaniard did not have things all his own way. This is not the first time he’s faced the pressure of supporters at the Emirates Stadium.

During his first full campaign at the helm, he steered the Londoners to an eighth-place finish. Stan Kroenke and Co could quite easily have pulled the plug on the project early. However, they kept the faith and over the last three seasons, the Gunners have finished second in the Premier League.

However, patience is beginning to run thin. It’s hugely worrying for Arteta that, with his side sitting top of the Premier League and in with a real chance of making the Champions League semi-finals, supporters still booed at the full-time whistle on Saturday.

“Bring your lunch, bring your dinner”, was the rallying cry from the Spaniard prior to this weekend’s defeat, a quote that now looks like something of an insult.

Supporters took Arteta’s directive but the performance on the pitch did not inspire confidence. The players didn’t bring their lunch, they didn’t bring their dinner. They didn’t even bring their boots. It was an anonymous performance.

But why is patience wearing thin? Well, the football is simply not good enough. In truth, it has not been all season long. Yet, with Arsenal regularly winning, it did not matter. Not many will care if the Premier League title arrives in May.

Yet, this is Arsenal Football Club. It’s a club known for playing a brand of exciting football. It has been anything but under Arteta this season.

While he has rightfully prioritised control and solidity at the back, it’s come at the expense of freedom and creativity in the final third. Many have bemoaned Arsenal as set-piece merchants this term and they will rightfully say the same after Saturday’s loss.

Against Andoni Iraola’s men, they registered an open play expected goals (xG) tally of just 0.18. They looked like a team worthy of being in the relegation zone, not one at the top end of the league.

So, in the unlikely event that Andrea Berta and KSE pulled the plug, who could replace Arteta?

The key candidates to replace Mikel Arteta at Arsenal

If there was ever a good time to get rid of the Spaniard, then it would be this summer. Things are all set for something of a managerial merry-go-round with Manchester United on the hunt for a new permanent head coach and Liverpool potentially giving Arne Slot the boot too.

In the Premier League, Marco Silva, Oliver Glasner and the aforementioned Iraola are all out of contract, while Julian Nagelsmann and Mauricio Pochettino could be available after the conclusion of the World Cup.

Elsewhere, Xabi Alonso is highly touted after being sacked by Real Madrid earlier this season. An Invincible with Bayer Leverkusen, there would almost be something romantic about him managing another side to have won the league unbeaten.

Yet, who else could they go for? Well, a certain Cesc Fabregas would no doubt be a charming appointment. Having made 303 appearances for Arsenal before leaving in controversial circumstances to join Barcelona, and then moving to Chelsea, some at the Emirates Stadium do not hold the Spanish midfielder in too high esteem.

However, there is no getting away from just how impressive he has been during the infant stages of his managerial career with Como in Italy.

Fabregas has been heralded as “football’s next elite manager” by some well-respected figures in the game and it’s hardly a surprise. At Como, he guided them out of Serie B last term, winning promotion to Serie A.

Have they sunk or swum at the top table of Italian football? They have certainly swum. Fabregas’ side are fifth in the division and are two points behind Juventus in the race for Champions League football. They even have a game in hand.

So, what makes the former Arsenal man so special as a manager? Celebrated as “one of the most impressive coaches in the world” by Como scout Ben Mattinson, he typically favours a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Prioritising a possession-based system, Fabregas’ Como side are attacking and penetrative. That final word should be music to the ears of Arsenal supporters who are looking for a lot more in the final third from their side.

Indeed, statistically, Como rank among the best in the league for ball retention, progressive circulation, and pressing intensity. It really is no surprise they sit so highly in Serie A right now.

Having played under Arsene Wenger and Guardiola, it will come as no surprise that he’s taken influence from both of them. Speaking to the Coaches’ Voice, Fabregas once said: “My obsession is to play forward, as a midfielder, this is what I’ve always loved, because I like to attack and I like to have the ball in the final third, which is where you win games.”

That sounds like the opposite of Arteta right now. He’s obsessed with control, with low-risk football in the final third. If Arsenal got their hands on another of their former midfielders in Cesc, that could all change.

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