Arsenal: Arsene Wenger Sven Mislintat comments wonderful

Arsene Wenger has stated that he and the Arsenal management team are working through the adaptation of Sven Mislintat. That is wonderful to hear.

Arsene Wenger is a stubborn man. We have learnt that over several seasons. It is not an especially shocking development. So when Arsenal began to ready for the period after his departure, which is something that they have not had to do in over two decades, I was somewhat hesitant to see what his reaction would be.

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This is, after all, the manager that questioned what a Sporting Director even does. He wants total and utter control over the club. He does not want to relinquish power; he wants to be in charge of every minute detail, making every single decision himself. It is, in this evolving, transforming, and enlarging modern world, a little archaic, when you stop to think about it.

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Nevertheless, Arsenal have pressed forward with hiring key people to support and, eventually, succeed Wenger. One of those is Head of Recruitment, Sven Mislintat, who has already left an impression on the club by encouraging, and completing, the signing of Konstantinos Mavropanos. And Wenger has revealed that he, the management team, and the club are working with Mislintat to ensure that the process of scouting and acquiring talent is as effective and efficient as it can be:

"“It is important to find a new balance. For them, it is more difficult than me because they have to adapt to a new environment, a different structure. Overall, at the moment it is a bit new and unusual. It is an important period but we are not used to working together. [We can improve] by communicating. I have meetings with them to talk about the problems and how we can make it all work.”"

I’ll be honest: I am surprised by Wenger’s response to this. I am, of course, relieved. The time for evolution had come. That does not mean sweeping change that involves the replacing of Wenger necessarily. But it does mean the implementation of certain people and processes around Wenger to support him. I, though, was wary of the effect that the change would have on Wenger.

Now, obviously, this could just be a public ruse, a classic, Wengerian contortion of the truth that later belies the actuality of the situation. And, in that case, my initial fears would be vindicated. But I hope that it is not. I hope that there is an element of truth to Wenger’s comments. I hope that Wenger is indeed adapting to the changes that are going on around him.

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It is for the betterment of this club. That much is difficult to deny. And, at least for the time being, it seems as though Wenger has realised that much. That is wonderful news indeed.