There is again much speculation from Arsenal fans, especially here in the Tavern, about the future of Arsene Wenger.
After 20 years in charge you would expect Wenger to be pretty much untouchable, but recent seasons have started to show a bit that maybe the Frenchman is growing out of touch with the modern day Premier League.
The midweek home defeat to Swansea has left the Gunners facing a major uphill challenge over the last ten games, to try and secure the much sought-after Premier League.
It is now 12 years since the ‘Invincibles’ season, indeed that was the last time the Gunners lifted the league trophy, and they have only two FA Cups in their trophy cabinet since then.
Any other manager would have been history long ago but the growing consensus is that Wenger could move aside at the end of this campaign if he again fails to deliver the league crown in May.
Here we look at FIVE possible replacements should he leave the Emirates hot-seat…….
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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FIVE REPLACEMENTS!
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Dennis Bergkamp
Bergkamp is a club legend with Gunners supporters.
He was part of the Invincibles and he won ten major honours in his 11 years with the club.
He scored 120 goals in total for the club, but his overall style of play won him major praise from the supporters and indeed many of those players that played with him.
The first match at the Emirates Stadium was his testimonial in 2006 and there was recently a statue erected at the stadium for him.
Since 2011, he has been assistant manager at Ajax in his native Holland, winning the league title in every year he has been on the coaching staff and it is only a matter of time before he cuts his managerial teeth, and what better place to do it than at the Emirates where he will certainly have the fans on side from day one.
Ronald Koeman
The experienced Dutchman has been a revelation in his Premier League career so far and he seems destined for a much bigger job in the near future.
No disrespect is meant to Southampton in saying that, but such as been his influence in the last two years at St. Mary’s that bigger clubs are going to come sniffing.
Koeman has plenty of managerial experience and has been relatively successful winning eight major honours in three different countries.
His time in the Premier League has also shown that he knows the English game, he has made several astute signings and he continues to have the Saints being competitive within the top half of the league.
Diego Simeone
Simeone is a man very much in demand with several top clubs throughout Europe being linked with a move for the Argentinian in the summer.
He has been in charge of Atletico Madrid since 2011 and he has done a fantastic job, winning five major honours including breaking the Barcelona/Real Madrid dominance with the La Liga title in 2014.
He also won the Europa League in his first season in charge, as well as the Copa del Rey and was, of course, just seconds away from the Champions League in 2014, until rivals Real stole it to win their ‘La Decima’.
But there is no doubting that Simeone is one of the top managers in Europe at the minute and every club would have their eye on him.
Manuel Pellegrini
He may not seem like a natural successor should Wenger leave but Pellegrini could be a key signing for the Gunners, should they so wish.
He is, of course, available in the summer and will leave Manchester City after three years in charge.
He knows the Premier League inside out by now and there is still the possibility he could end the season with his second Premier League success.
He is a double League Cup winner and has all the experience and attributes that the Gunners should be looking for if they wish to continue to challenge for success on all fronts, which is something that Pellegrini will be able to provide for them.
Roberto Martinez
Much like Koeman and Pellegrini, Martinez is someone that Arsenal should keep their eye on if they want somebody that knows the Premier League.
Martinez has been in charge at Everton for the last three years, with relative success.
But his managerial career has progressed and he is now experienced in the Premier League with Swansea and Wigan, where he defied all odds to win the FA Cup in 2013.
He likes his side to play good football, which is something that Arsenal are synomynous with so he could provide a good fit there.
He has close relationships with the likes of John Stones and Romelu Lukaku who could both do good jobs at the Emirates so this is also one that Gunners fans shouldn’t write off right away.
