Arsenal: If Max Allegri is ‘no’, Carlo Ancelotti is not ‘yes’

There are growing suggestions that Massimiliano Allegri may say ‘no’ to Arsenal if they approach him to be Arsene Wenger’s successor. If that is the case, that does not make Carlo Ancelotti a ‘yes’.

With Arsenal’s season ending on Sunday, the hunt for a new manager, something that this club has not had to do for more than 20 years, is beginning to heat up. While it is just rumour and conjecture in the papers at this current time, there is a seeming narrowing of the names as Ivan Gazidis et al. begin to hone their shortlist.

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Finding a replacement for Arsene Wenger is no easy task. It is arguably the second toughest job in the history of the sport behind a very similar scenario at Old Trafford five years prior. And so the decision that is made, whatever decision that may be, needs to be a considered and well-thought-out one.

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One name that has been consistently linked with the role is Massimiliano Allegri. The Juventus manager, who is looking to secure his fourth Serie A title in succession this week, needing just one point from the final two games to do so, is perhaps the individual with the greatest blend of European decoration and youthful energy and drive. However, there have been suggestions that he will stay with Juventus and reject any advances from the Gunners. Such reports have been spurred on by his recent comments to the media after the Coppa Italia final victory over AC Milan on Wednesday:

"“We must win the title and then fight for the next title. I have a contract with Juve and as every year we will meet at the end of the season to plan the future. It will be necessary to have the clarity to understand how to improve ourselves, to win back-to-back is always difficult and we must always build to try to win on all fronts.”"

There is only one man, of the myriad of options that have been linked with the role, that can match the experience and accomplishments of Allegri: Carlo Ancelotti.

It would, therefore, not be utterly ridiculous to suggest that the former Real Madrid, AC Milan and Bayern Munich coach, who also has prior experience of the Premier League thanks to his time at Chelsea, is Arsenal’s second-choice, assuming that Allegri was their first. Logically, the two are most alike. If you miss out on one, why not go for the other?

That, for me, would be a mistake. Ancelotti is already 58 years of age. To expect him to be able to manage in a high-pressure environment for another decade is a little ambitious and naive. Moreover, his recent performance at Bayern suggests that he may not be the manager that he once was, akin to another ageing great that the Gunners have allowed to lead them for too long. He does not bring a fresh, new atmosphere. He does not offer an exciting, revolutionary tactical system. He may not even attract the type of names that Arsenal need anymore. He is of the old guard.

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Just because Allegri says ‘no’, if that is indeed how this all plays out, that does not mean that Arsenal then have to say ‘yes’ to the manager who is most like him. Ancelotti would be a major mistake, even as second-choice.