Arsenal: Thomas Tuchel reports prove one thing

Arsenal are being heavily linked with former Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel as a potential Arsene Wenger successor. What the reports prove, if nothing else, is that everything is at a standstill until the manager situation is concluded.

Last season, as the vociferous criticism rose, the questions lingered, and the atmosphere that engulfed the club soured, it was clear that the Arsenal squad was detrimentally affected. The performances between the white lines were infected by the uncertainty outside of the white lines.

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Arsene Wenger himself admitted as much after the season, conceding, ‘it has been difficult and, certainly, my [sic] personal situation has contributed to that.’ And now, seemingly, we are all in exactly the same situation once again.

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This time, there is a slight difference.  While last year Wenger’s contract expired at the end of the year and it was easy for Arsenal to walk away, because he extended his stay by signing a two-year deal the club would have to fire him, or at least both parties would have to agree to a mutually-consented separation. I am unsure whether Wenger would agree to that, even though he has stated that the time to end his tenure is solely up to him.

Nevertheless, even with that difference, the uncertainty is still rife within the club, so much so that significant reports are being leaked to the media about possible successors. The latest of these reports, originating from Germany, centre around the former Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel.

Now, I have no knowledge of their validity or truthfulness. Certainly, they are substantial claims that are said without reservation, which usually means that the reporters with the information are confident in it. But to be clear about anything that will happen with the Arsenal manager’s position would be utterly naive.

And that is the crux of the problem. The only thing that the Tuchel reports confirm for me is that nothing is settled, nothing agreed upon, no decision has been made, no solution has been found. That is extremely troubling because nothing can be implemented, executed and developed before the managerial selection is made.

Everything is at a standstill before the leader is put in place. And so the same uncertainty that decimated the psychological state of the squad last season only returns again. That is extremely problematic as the team looks to rescue their campaign with a Europa League victory, sneaking in the back door of the Champions League.

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What is needed is a decision. Whether it be Wenger staying. Whether it be Wenger going at the end of the season. Whether it be Tuchel or Leonardo Jardim or Eddie Howe or Max Allegri. A decision needs to be made and quickly. Doubt and uncertainty is killing this football club.