One of the most convincing arguments for Arsène Wenger staying at Arsenal beyond this season is the lack of an appropriate replacement for the Frenchman.
After all, how do you pick out an obvious replacement for a man whose own appointment was far from obvious?
Diego Simeone is potentially unattainable, Eddie Howe is inexperienced at the top level, and – if we’re being honest – a large number of potential arrivals may well face teething problems due to simply not being the man who brought so many good times to the London club.
Got too much respect for Wenger to call him out which is why I cannot wait to get my teeth stuck into hating the new manager next season
— Andy (@andyyy_1) February 15, 2017
Now, the grass is always greener on the other side and all, but plenty of Gooners have taken a look at the stagnation under Wenger and convinced themselves that the club missed the boat.
After all, there’s a top manager whose teams have a history of entertaining, attacking football, who was available as recently as 2015.
He’s even fluent in English, as he’s shown at his current club, and has reached two European finals this decade compared to Wenger’s 0.
The only problem? He’s tied down to a long-term deal at another Premier League club.
the best one is already taken. Klopp
— /home/jeph🌴🍁 (@SecJeph) February 15, 2017
You right, I thought Klopp would have been perfect for Arsenal but Arsene hung around too long and Liverpool got him.
— George D. Metellus (@GDMetellus8) February 15, 2017
As much as I'd take Allegri, the perfect manager for Arsenal would have been Juergen Klopp.
An attacking coach and a big game coach.
— Kizo (@i_am_capello) February 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/PaulW_16/status/831991361352192000
Although, Klopp would've been perfect, but turned out @Arsenal didn't need him. https://t.co/TCAXdLWnPo
— Ritwik Maunas (@r_maunas) February 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/Cmularr/status/832016955091668992
#afc should have swapped Wenger for Klopp when he was available.
— XenTrader (@XenTrader) February 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/arron_far/status/831980024840478721
Offer £40,000,001 for Klopp. #afc
— Sean Collier (@seanroy93) February 15, 2017
you missed a trick not snapping up Klopp the perfect fit for Arsenal
— JAH (@JAH59) February 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/JordanJMcBride/status/831981730475159552
https://twitter.com/CallumJScott/status/825302407269773312
https://twitter.com/DT__76/status/831986564729282560
https://twitter.com/Rory_ODonoghue/status/820683726829027329
Even Liverpool fans agree…
https://twitter.com/LFCTDot/status/831524589746450434
If Wenger does end up leaving at the end of the current campaign, the pressure will be on Arsenal’s ownership to make the right appointment.
If they get it wrong, expect the ‘could haves’ and ‘should haves’ to get even louder.
Catch up with this week’s episode of 888sport Football Friday Live
