Arsenal: Frank Lampard ideal rejected for one clear reason

Frank Lampard has stated that the managerial solution for both Arsenal and Chelsea is staring them right in the face. Diego Simeone. He’s right. But the Atletico Madrid manager is being rejected for one clear reason: Style.

There was a vast array of possible names that Arsenal could have chased after in their hunt for Arsene Wenger’s successor.

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From the established elite like Massimiliano Allegri and Carlo Ancelotti to the young and upcoming in Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann, there was almost every type of possible manager available for them to pursue.

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However, there was one who never seemed to enter the discussion as being the next manager at the Emirates, one who might have a more complete and convincing resume than any other candidate even rumoured with the job. I am, of course, referring to Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone, who is coming off his third Europa League win with the club. And Frank Lampard, in the London Evening Standard, wonders why the Gunners never really made a move for the feisty Argentinian:

"“Had Arsenal chosen to look elsewhere for a more senior man, though, it would not have surprised me if they had considered Diego Simeone. I have not heard Simeone being linked too much with the posts that could be about to become available on these shores and I do not know why. Arsenal could have benefited had they employed him. He’s a winner. He would give any team what it needs in terms of discipline and working on the defensive unit.”"

Lampard makes some very valid points. And I agree with most of them. Simeone, based on credibility, success and experience, is probably the best available candidate for the role, perhaps alongside Allegri. But he has never been spoken of in the same manner as the Juventus manager or many of the younger coaches that the Gunners have seemingly chased. Why?

Well, it comes down to one simple reason that Lampard recognises, without ever expanding on or confirming, in his piece, ‘people talk about his style of play’. And this is the key reason why he has never truly been considered as a viable successor for Wenger. As Ivan Gazidis stated in his press conference on the same day that Wenger announced he was to leave at the end of the season, one of the key attributes that the new manager must embody is a clear and attractive style. Certainly, Simeone does not have said attribute.

However, as Lampard states, that does not mean that his ways are not effective. He has enjoyed rich success with Atletico while battling the far superior financial might of Real Madrid and Barcelona. But his ways are not attractive or entertaining. That, for Arsenal, is the final straw, or, in fact, the first straw in this case, in their assessment of Simeone.

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He may be the most accomplished manager that is potentially available. But Gazidis and Sven Mislintat and Raul Sanllehi could not see past his style. They will have to live and die by their commitment to the attractive.