%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Pep Guardiola Is The Perfect Candidate To Replace Arsene Wenger At Arsenal
By Nasra Osman
If you ask any Arsenal fan, diehard or casual what thoughts pop into their minds when they think of their beloved club, I guarantee you the name Arsene Wenger would be mentioned more often than not.
The name Arsene Wenger is synonymous with Arsenal, in the sense that Wenger is Arsenal Football Club personified. He lives and breathes it. He has ever since he first took over the reigns from George Graham some 20 years ago. He has been around the club so long that some young Gunners’ fans have never seen another manager at the helm. Given this, it is particularly difficult to envision a time in the future where Wenger will not be walking the touchline at the Emirates.
But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end eventually.
Just last week, the Daily Mirror suggested that Wenger will retire at the end of the 2016/2017 season. Naturally, this declaration has sparked a ton of speculation on who Wenger’s successor will be, when the time comes. There has been a plethora of names thrown into the seemingly never ending list of potential contenders to be Arsenal’s next top dog. Although there are many qualified candidates, there is one name on that list that leaps off the page in particular. Pep Guardiola.
More from Arsenal News
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
It’s no secret that Bayern Munich’s current manager has been a long time admirer of Arsene Wenger and Arsenal Football Club. It is only natural that his name should come up in the discussion. Despite being only 44, Guardiola has already accumulated more trophies at his young age than most managers achieve in their entire managerial careers. His most impressive titles came during his reign at Barcelona. There, he won a total of 14 trophies, including three La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League medals.
He helped assemble what is widely regarded to be one of the most talented squads in recent memory, which boasted the likes of Andres Iniesta, Xavi and the world’s greatest player in Lionel Messi. His footballing philosophy and silky smooth style of play while managing the Catalan club was recognized as being the most attractive type of football to watch from a fan’s perspective.
His impressive resume coupled with his current success at Bayern could potentially make for a seamless transition into Arsenal’s front office when Wenger finally decides to call it a career. Other names such as Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Martinez have been mentioned. However, the fact that Guardiola’s footballing ideologies and style of play are so similar to Wenger’s means that he may have the advantage over the others. I remember when people used to say that Arsenal were “Barcelona like” when Guardiola was manager. Perhaps he is the one to take this team to those heights after Wenger is gone.
Evidently, it will be a regrettable day when the man affectionately dubbed “Le Prof” by Arsenal fans, eventually decides to move on. Arsenal Football club was big before Wenger, but he made them even bigger. He won 15 trophies (and counting), went an entire season unbeaten, and built a world class stadium that any Premier League club would envy. Essentially, he has made Arsenal Football Club his life’s work. When he finishes, it will be Guardiola’s turn to make this club his life’s work too.
Next: 10 Worst Signings Under Arsene Wenger