The pressure is mounting on Unai Emery, and it would seem only a matter of time before the Spaniard is pushed over the edge. It is incredibly unlikely that he will walk away from the club, which means the board will have to decide whether Emery has taken the club as far as he can.
The writing appears to be on the wall over recent weeks, with the Gunners dropping down the Premier League table with every passing week. The recent 2-2 draw with Southampton at the Emirates was greeted by a chorus of boos at the full-time whistle, and in his post-match press conference, Emery looked defeated.
There is no doubting that he is a good manager, but it appears that the relationship has gone stale. The Gunners can ill-afford to drop off the pace too much as the battle for a place in the top four already looks to be a stretch longer than being an outsider horse in the Kentucky Derby race. But, should Emery leave the club, who could be the man to replace him?
Massimiliano Allegri
The man at the top of the favourites to be the next manager of Arsenal is the former Juventus coach. Allegri enjoyed a brilliant career in Turin, and it was a shock to most when he was replaced by Maurizio Sarri over the summer. However, Juventus’ loss could be the Gunners gain should Allegri fancy a crack at the Premier League.
No manager in the history of Juventus can boast a better win percentage than the Italian, and he brings with him a wealth of honours. He has won the Serie A on six occasions and four Coppa Italia’s. That record includes winning the Italian domestic title five years in a row with Juventus. Most of the top clubs in world football are being linked with the Italian, but the Emirates could be his home.
Mikel Arteta
If you can’t get Pep Guardiola, then you may as well get the next best thing. Mikel Arteta has been the right-hand man to the Spaniard since he arrived in the Premier League, and the experience that he would have gained would have been immeasurable. However, there will still be questions whether he will be able to be a number one.
Down the years, there have been many examples of assistants failing as a manager, but there is a feeling that Arteta could be destined for great things. Whether he will leave City to join Arsenal remains a question as he could be seen as the ready-made replacement for Guardiola. However, the Arsenal job would certainly interest Arteta after he captained the club during his playing career. He was among the favourites before Emery was appointed, but this time could his moment.
Mauricio Pochettino
Among the favourites for the next manager is also the recently sacked Tottenham Hotspur coach. It would seem incredibly unlikely that Pochettino would choose to join Arsenal, but the bookmakers certainly think that there is a chance. He enjoyed a stellar career with Spurs, as he guided them to four Champions League finishes in five seasons.
He also led our North London rivals to their very first Champions League final in June. There are still questions surrounding his ability to win silverware, but he is certainly one of the best managers without a job at present.
He would be able to get the best out of the younger players in the squad, and it would definitely add a new dimension to the derby later in the season. It would be an incredible turn of events, but it would seem a long shot.
