Arsenal and Zeljko Buvac: Now that is a risk

Arsenal are being linked with Liverpool assistant coach and long-time Jurgen Klopp partner Zeljko Buvac to succeed Arsene Wenger. I have always been a proponent of the Gunners taking a chance, but this is a proper risk.

Arsenal are now well and truly into the nitty-gritty of their search for a new manager. It has been over a week since Arsene Wenger announced that he was resigning at the end of the season and there has been plenty of time for Ivan Gazidis to begin his quest to replace the 22-year-reigning king.

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That is far from an easy task. To put it into context, I was two the last time that Arsenal were looking for a new manager. I, and many like myself, do not remember this club without Wenger at the helm.

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As a result, no one really knows what Gazidis and the decision-makers in charge will look for in a manager. The chief executive did give a few characteristics in his press conference after the announcement, but their private thoughts and public comments could easily be very different. That said, if there is one thing that I would like to see the club do, it is to take a risk, perhaps on a younger manager, on an individual that they believe can re-shape the culture of the team.

The stagnation of mediocrity that has infected the club stems from Wenger and his loyalty to his players. The lack of challenge and criticism. The absence of leading characters in the dressing room. The acceptance of failure without proper work to address such issues. They all stem from the culture at the club. That is what needs to change.

And so, one of the most recent names to surface, and from absolute left-field, is an extremely intriguing one. Long-time Jurgen Klopp assistant, Zeljko Buvac, is being rumoured to be the target that Arsenal are wanting to go after by Bravada BL, who also confirmed Klopp’s hiring by Liverpool in 2015.

Buvac has worked with Klopp for almost 17 years, standing by his side at FC Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and now Liverpool. He is known as ‘The Brains’ and is largely credited, behind the scenes, at least, with much of the brilliant work that Klopp has done at each club. He is, ostensibly, an intelligible, successful coach. But can he be a manager?

I guess if I wanted previously for Arsenal to take a risk on someone, then Buvac would be the type of person to do it. But this, even for me, might be a step too far. He has never been a manager before; his only experience of the Premier League is under Klopp at Liverpool; he has no prior connection to the Gunners and likely has little understanding of their inner-workings, which could both be a good and bad thing.

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I do not really know what to think of this potential appointment. I am yet to make my mind up. But one thing I do know is that it is a serious risk. Gazidis is a braver man than I if he takes this avenue.