Arsenal: Sven Mislintat provides a peek at the future

Arsenal have hired Sven Mislintat as their new head of recruitment. The hiring provides a peek into the future as the club begins to build for the post-Arsene Wenger era.

There is no manager in world football that possesses the same power as what Arsene Wenger does at Arsenal. He has a detailed understanding of every nook and cranny of the club. He dictates every minute detail, from the what the players eat at the canteen to the make-up of the backroom staff.

The last manager to have the same influence at a club as Wenger was Sir Alex Ferguson. He was also the master of all at Manchester United, the ultimate decision maker, the final voice. The last call was his. And in the aftermath of his retiring, we have seen the struggles that United have suffered from. They are yet to finish in the top three in the Premier League. They never finished outside the top three under Ferguson in the Premier League.

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So Arsenal have a unique insight into the troubles that can come from trying to replace a manager that has such unheralded power. There is no one who is used to the position that Wenger is. So people and positions and constraints and structures must be put in place to help whoever will come to the club after Wenger has departed.

That is why the recent hiring of Sven Mislintat is so significant. The Borussia Dortmund recruitment guru, who has been recognised with the acquisitions of Shinji Kagawa, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Robert Lewandowski and Christian Pulisic, was hired to replace Steve Rowley as Arsenal’s Head of Recruitment. This is what Wenger said about the decision on Monday:

"“We are delighted that Sven is joining us. Identifying and developing talent is a core part of our philosophy and Sven has an outstanding track record over many years. We look forward to him taking our existing recruitment approach forwards.”"

Given Wenger’s continued presence at the club, it is difficult to envisage Mislintat having a substantial impact on Arsenal’s recruitment before Wenger leaves. Wenger, after all, has always dictated what players are bought and sold, and for what price. He is the sole architect of the squad, even if he has input from trusted scouts.

But Mislintat’s hiring does provide a peek into the future of the club. This is a readying of the club for the post-Wenger era. It has now been 21 years. At the end of the season, it will be 22 years since another manager has managed them. That is a difficult transition to manage.

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Bringing in a man of Mislintat’s reputation and experience shows that Arsenal are serious about replacing Wenger successfully. They have seen United’s difficulties and are keen to avoid them. It will not be easy. But it is coming nonetheless. Mislintat’s arrival is just further proof of that.

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