Look To The Future - The Replacement

22 years. 3 Premier League titles. 7 FA Cups. One incredible legacy. Arsène Wenger may have left some of his legacy tarnished by the last two seasons, but the overlying truth has been clear to see throughout the past 22 years that this man has revolutionised football and the managerial process throughout England and Europe.

It has been a forgettable time of late for the Gunners. Arsenal Fan TV, planes and Piers Morgan have all risen to prominence in their disgust that the boss remained in his position for as long as he has done. But one cannot forget that Wenger guided Arsenal to the Champions League places every single year consecutively for the vast majority of his tenure, as well as reaching a Champions League final in 2006. But were Arsenal going anywhere? Were they ever going to do anything but finish in the top four year on year? It eventually petered out and now they are staring at a second season absence from the elite four of English football.

Let me take you back to 1996. A year in which O.J Simpson's trial began, Dolly the sheep became the first cloned animal, and the Nintendo 64 was released. Ironically this also was six years before I was born, and this signifies the period of time that Wenger has left his imprint at both Highbury and the Emirates. The reaction when he arrived was, it's fair to say, of bemusement. Names such as Johan Cruyff were being touted to replace Bruce Rioch, but this random Frenchman who was working in Japan? Really? Arsène who? (above).

The rest is history. He won leagues of 1998, 2002, and the incredible invincibles of 2004. But its starting to become a history lesson now. Let's look to the future. Here are seven different managers I feel would be successful and realistic fit for the Gunners.

1: NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO 

The current Wolves boss has wowed the Championship with the three at the back system with pace in attack, with the likes of Diogo Jota, Ivan Cavaleiro and Helder Costa providing entertainment and energy from 1 to 46 in the Championship season. Yes, I know what you're all thinking, its the Championship, why does that provide Nuno with the nous of a future Arsenal manager? Well he's not your typical Neil Warnock kind of Championship manager that we've become so familiar with in the past decade or so. The man has Champions League experience and has managed in both La Liga in Spain and the Liga NOS in Portugal. The Fosun-Jorge Mendes connection brought the former Porto goalkeeper to Molineux in a managerial capacity.

WHY?

Santo has the capacity to attract talent from across Europe, as well as utilising his connection to Jorge Mendes the super agent. His tactics could breathe fresh air into a side praying for a change. I cannot see this one happening though

Odds: 50/1

My chance out of 10: 2/10

2: PATRICK VIEIRA

Well this would be a romantic appointment wouldn't it? An invincible and Arsenal legend returning to fill the manager's boots who made him a household name throughout the football world. Vieira, who retired back in 2011 after a spell with Manchester City, has remained with the City Football Group, both in a youth capacity in Manchester, then by taking the first team reins in New York. Would it just seem right for the former defensive midfielder to return to the place where he made his name? Or would it be a recipe for disaster? Vieira has recently stated his happiness in New York but would he really prioritise the MLS over the attraction of the Premier League?

WHY?

Vieira is a name which reeked solidity in his playing days, but in his time in the MLS the Frenchman has been more experimental in his two and a half years as the gaffer at the Pigeons. He has a good record, finishing 4th last season and have had an unbeaten start to MLS 2018.

Odds: 12/1

My chance out of 10: 5/10

3: EDDIE HOWE

With Bournemouth being a football playing team playing in a lower part of the table in a smaller environment than the Emirates, the only issue for me with Eddie Howe would be the added pressure of expectation because he certainly has the reputation and the coaching skill. Having taken Bournemouth from the depths of the football league as a player and manager to now maintaining a third consecutive Premier League mid table finish. Soon enough, he will leave Bournemouth, because a manager of his ability, temperament and style needs to be given a chance at a big club. I think he's similar to Brendan Rodgers in terms of his background and style of football and I have no doubt Eddie Howe will succeed in his career, and maybe he has been groomed for a job such as this.

WHY?

As I said before, Howe has almost been groomed for a job such as this and seems the perfect fit for Arsenal, playing a very similar style to Arsène Wenger. But is that what Arsenal need? Maybe a change of style would be more appropriate now the era is over.

Odds: 16/1

My chance out of 10: 2/10

4: BRENDAN RODGERS

There is no denying the coaching ability of a man who has experienced Chelsea, Barcelona, Liverpool and Celtic on his CV, and like Howe seems to have been groomed for a job like this n terms of his style and guile. Unlike Howe though Rodgers has had his chance at a big club, having a spell with the Reds between 2012 and 2015. After a stuttering start in his first season, he nearly pulled off one of the most incredible seasons of free flowing attacking football in 2013-14 but were pipped at the final post after a slip from Steven Gerrard and a 3 goal comeback from a Dwight Gayle inspired Crystal Palace. However, a dire third season and a poor start to his fourth saw him lose his job and he took up the post at Celtic Park under a year later. He has had immense success with the Bhoys, guiding them to an invincible treble season domestically, and is set to follow that up with just the regular treble this season.

WHY?

Like Howe, Brendan Rodgers's style seems to fit the bill perfectly to replace Arsène Wenger. But once again I'd question whether Ivan Gazidis and the leadership committee would choose such a similar replacement to their predecessor.

Odds: 6/1

My chance out of 10: 7/10

5: JULIAN NAGELSMANN

For those who don't recognise the Hoffenheim boss, the 30 year old has stunned the Bundesliga scene since his appointment in 2016. His appointment came prematurely after initially agreeing to start at the beginning of the 2016/17 season, he actually became manager in February, tasked with saving the club from relegation, with Die Kraichtgauer lingering in 17th, which is second bottom in the Bundesliga. The club had initially appointed Huub Stevens, but the Dutchman had resigned a day later due to health issues and Nagelsmann  was brought in early, at the time being 28, the youngest manager in at least the top 6 leagues of football and the youngest in Bundesliga history. They were seven points from safety with fourteen games remaining, but the fresh faced German guided them to 15th with seven wins from the fourteen. They continued their good form into the 2016/17 season, in which they qualified for the Champions League. They did lose to Liverpool in qualifying but Nagelsmann is continuing to enhance his reputation still.

WHY?

Nagelsmann has always maintained throughout his coaching career that "30% of coaching is tactics and 70% social competence". Maybe that's just what Arsenal need. He has the ability to last a long time in management because of his age, and maybe that could be tailor-made for the Gunners.

Odds: 16/1

My chance out of 10: 4/10

6: LUIS ENRIQUE:

Maybe the manager with the biggest reputation on this seven man shortlist, the Champions League and La Liga winner with Barcelona would bring a serious pedigree and reputation to the Emirates. The man tasked with repairing the onslaught of disaster (in Barca's terms, finishing 3rd) brought by Gerardo 'Tato' Martino in the 2013/14 season, he responded the very next , alongside the new arrival of Luis Suarez, to bring back the famed 'Coupe des Clubs Champions Europeens' trophy back to the Nou Camp for the fifth time. Although one could say he's only proven at a super-club such as 'Blaugran' but could he bring some success down from such a level to one just below it?

WHY?

Luis Enrique brings some star quality which Arsenal are now beginning to rely on, with the acquisitions such as Lacazette and Aubameyang to go alongside the likes of the rest of the top six in their quest for success. This Arsenal, in 2017, is much more adept for change, maybe more than the Arsenal of 2014 or 2015.

Odds: 5/2

My Chance out of 10: 7/10

7: MIKEL ARTETA

Following the biggest reputation in the shortlist with the smallest to finish, Mikel Arteta is the only one out of the seven yet to have any managerial experience, rather to ply his trade as assistant to Pep Guardiola at the all conquering Manchester City. The former Arsenal skipper and defensive midfielder enjoyed a good relationship with supporters whilst at the Gunners, but unfortunately spent the end of his career stricken with injury. The Sociedad trainee must have been heavily influenced by the understated genius Pep Guardiola and has to be considered a serious candidate for this job, especially now as I'm writing I read that Ivan Gazidis wants the Spaniard back at the Emirates. If he's the board's favourite, with probably the smallest reputation, I can see Arteta emerging as the favourite for the job in the next few months if they choose to head in an experimental direction rather than experience and short-term success.

WHY?

It may seem like a high-risk appointment very much looking to the future, which is arguably what Arsenal did with Arsène Wenger, so should they go for the same route, or the supposedly patchy route of short-term success which has proved successful for Chelsea and Manchester City?

Thanks for reading the latest edition of the Sporting Lowdown, which will be the last in a while due to exams. I will be working on something which isn't time dependent, which will be certainly the longest and most enjoyable piece I will work on, but all in good time, eh?