Arsenal: Manchester United team provides M.O. for new manager

Arsene Wenger flooded the first team with young players against Manchester United on Sunday. The team selection provides the M.O. for the new Arsenal manager.

It was part-brave, part-foolish, and part-sensible of Arsene Wenger to ring the changes like he did.

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The Premier League is now of little importance to Arsenal. The Europa League is the sole priority and so the team selections should be geared as such. That is where the sensibility comes in. But that does not mean that other managers would have taken the same course of action. Travelling to Old Trafford, playing Manchester United, in the midst of your undulating goodbyes. There were many reasons for Wenger to thrust the youngsters in like he did.

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But even in defeat, because of his team selection, there are still many positives to be drawn out. The individual performances of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Calum Chambers; the collective character shown after going a goal down and looking a little lost in the opening periods of play; the calmness, confidence, and composure displayed, traits that are not usually attributed to a team of such youth and inexperience.

And those lessons learned, lessons that now set whoever comes in to manage the club next season in a better position than without them, would never have been possible if Wenger had not been willing to thrust young players into games that many may have deemed beyond their capabilities or their readiness. For Wenger, the development youth has always been a major priority. This team selection was just another symptom of their value.

It does, however, provide a wonderful example for whoever will come after Wenger. Arsenal, as a club, put great pride in their youth development.

Whether it be through the academy, like in the case of Jack Wilshere and Reiss Nelson. Or whether it be in regards to their acquiring and fine-tuning young players, like Cesc Fabregas, Aaron Ramsey, Hector Bellerin and now Calum Chambers, Rob Holding and Konstantinos Mavropanos. In whatever form, there is an onus put on the manager of not simply buying players to fill holes in the squad, but looking to the progression of youth to provide depth.

It would be extremely disappointing if Arsenal hired somebody who does not have a good record with young players. Ivan Gazidis has stated that it is a priority of theirs, and I do believe him. But that does not necessarily mean that they will be able to tie that particular type of manager to the job. There are more moving parts than that.

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Nevertheless, that is the expectation placed on the style of the new manager. It is what Wenger has done for 22 years. He did it again on Sunday. It is what must continue to happen when is gone. It is the M.O. of Arsenal football club, and the new manager will have to mirror it.