Arsene Wenger is set to leave Arsenal at the end of the season and I’m afraid that things may worsen at the Emirates before it gets better, DEAN WORKMAN explores.
Wenger’s legacy may have been slightly tainted over the last few years with the side underperforming, but that should not take away what he has achieved at Arsenal. He won three Premier League trophies ― including the famous ‘Invincible’ season ― a record seven FA Cups and seven Community Shields.
Arsenal’s decline over the past few seasons has seen them fall behind the rest of England’s top clubs, both on and off the field. Their deterioration has resulted in a worldwide #WengerOut campaign from the Arsenal supporters, but now that they have got their wish the need to realise that whoever comes into the hot seat at the Emirates faces a serious rebuilding job.
Wenger is the last of the super managers of his era and since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, he has been the only manager in the league with total control of how their club is run. Manchester United’s struggles since Ferguson’s retirement will prove as a warning to the Arsenal board, that they need to make the right appointment.
Even if the right man comes in, Arsenal fans should be under no illusions that they will be challenging for the league title straight away. The new boss would need to deal with all the issues that face the current squad and the off-field issues around contract renewals.
Starting with the squad, the defence needs an overhaul. Goalkeeper Petr Cech is ageing and has begun to show frailties this season while defender Shkodran Mustafi has been inconsistent, as has Hector Bellerin. Added to their woes is the fact that Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal are both on the wrong side of thirty. The Gunners will need to build an almost new defence, a process that takes time.
Their midfield is still unbalanced and will likely need a couple of top quality additions, leaving only the forward line. Arsenal may have a wealth of attacking talent, but their new manager will need to find a system that suits both his own ideologies and the attributes of his players, if he is going to get the best out them.
Then there are the issues off the field. After failing to convince Alexis Sanchez to sign a new contract, ultimately seeing the player leave for Old Trafford and the Gunners face a similar situation as Jack Wilshire’s contract expires in the English summer. Convincing Mesut Ozil to sign a new contract in the final six months of his previous deal may have calmed fears of a boardroom meltdown, but if Wilshire ― a fan favourite ― is allowed to leave on a Bosman in the summer, questions will again be asked.
This rebuilding process will likely take a number of transfer windows to fix and Arsenal fans will need to be patient with the club, because it may just get worse before it gets better.
