Arsenal: Thank their lucky stars for Italy and Carlo Ancelotti

Italy have reportedly entered into discussions with Carlo Ancelotti regarding their national team role. While no agreement has yet been made, it could mean that the former Bayern Munich manager is out of the running at the Emirates. Arsenal should be thanking their lucky stars.

The focus has well and truly turned to the future. While Arsene Wenger will be given an extended goodbye over the coming weeks, the attention in the media and in the stands has already begun to shift towards what, or, more accurately, who, is next.

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One name that has surfaced among the newspapers is Carlo Ancelotti. The former AC Milan, Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager is perhaps the most experienced European manager that Arsenal could feasibly hire. Given his resume and the difficulty of the job that he will be entering into, the links make sense, right?

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Well, I am not quite as convinced about Ancelotti as others may be. Certainly, he has had a remarkable career — he has won three Champions Leagues with two different clubs; has won a league title in all five of Europe’s top five leagues, England, Italy, Spain, France and Germany, and also has prior experience of the Premier League, something some other continental candidates do not have. But there is one key issue: He is a short-term solution.

Ancelotti will be 59 by the time next summer rolls around. He does not exactly a great number of years left at the top tier of football management. Moreover, ever since his Milan departure, he has never held onto a job for all that long, often steadying the ship at different clubs but never really looking towards the future.

For me, I want an Arsenal to be looking for a manager who offers the long-term vision, not just a short-term patchwork. I would also like them to go young, to refreshen the club with a new culture and approach, rather than take on a re-tread like Ancelotti.

And so, I am therefore thanking my lucky stars that Italy have made a move for the former Bayern coach. The reports do not say that an agreement has been made, or even that one will be made. Simply, there has been an approach to Ancelotti regarding the national team’s role.

That will force Arsenal’s hand. Either they will want Ancelotti and now have to act fast in trying to appoint him, or they will have to determine whether he is definitely not in the running, highlighting other targets that they prefer instead. Either way, a decision on Ancelotti must be made soon.

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I hope that the Gunners make what I believe to be the right one. It remains to be seen whether they agree with me or not, but, from my perspective, Italy’s move for Ancelotti is certainly no bad thing. In fact, it might be a very good thing.