Arsenal: Next technical director should be Arsenal man

Arsenal are searching for a new technical director after both Monchi and Marc Overmars rejected their advances. As they continue to find a candidate, it is important that they hire someone who innately understands the club.

History often has an education to offer any person willing to look and think. Sometimes in football, what you need to move on effectively is something brand new. Someone to change tactics, perspectives, the culture and environment of a circumstance; other times, a subtle variation on what was is all that is needed for what will be. These dual philosophies could be useful during Arsenal’s continued technical director search.

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Unai Emery has rejuvenated Arsenal with pure coaching acumen in just his first year, despite limited transfers and funds. Utilising his vast coaching skill, he has moulded the talent that Arsene Wenger left to him after more than two decades at the helm. But what now for the vacant technical director position?

With solid coaching pushing the team forward, some of the past playing talent could be useful in continuing the construction of both the team and academy. A team’s spirit and culture from that bygone era can be intoxicating to reinvigorate an academy and a first team. A romanticisation of the club’s history, alongside the beautiful new traditions of the Emery era, could prove a marvellous incentive for youth and talent moving forward.

Two of the Champions League’s best stories are clear evidence of the efficacy of this strategy.

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In Manchester, years of inconsistent, mediocre play seem long gone in the wake of Man. United’s mid-season resurgence under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. As it turned out, the answer to losing Sir Alex Ferguson was merely a player from under his reign, a player who knew the mental teachings of the master, but had a younger, fresher perspective. While they still have their own administerial issues, they finally have a Manchester United man continuing the culture of expression and pace. Perspective is often times as important as technical acumen.

Meanwhile, in Amsterdam, the great resurgence of Ajax can be attributed to Marc Overmars. A former player during Ajax’s glory years under Louis van Gaal, his 2012 return as director of football was the turning point in the club’s recent history. Also of Arsenal fame, he developed talent through the academy, signed veterans, and brought in outside perspective in current manager, Erik ten Hag. The mixture of the old culture and expectation, combined with new concepts and innovations, is Arsenal’s blueprint.

Despite not landing Overmars as their own technical director, this direction was the right idea. Following the surprise loss in obtaining the services of Monchi in this position, Overmars was quickly re-signed to better terms by Ajax to solidify his position moving forward. But that does not mean a former player cannot become the Gunners’ new technical director. The breadth of players to look to is much larger than just Overmars.

While Thierry Henry proved unsuccessful in his short tenure as boss at Monaco, his time assisting the Belgian national team prior was invaluable for those players. A position in which utilizing his eye for both talent and technique for the club that adores him could be a great rebound for the club and Henry. Henry’s expectations for self and club are known and legendary wherever he has been, and his spirit could continue to positively impact the academy and their remarkable youth movement as well.

Dennis Bergkamp is another famous name from Arsenal’s (and Ajax’s) past. While his coaching tenure since his retirement has been seen with mixed success as well, his eye for skill cannot be in question. The eye for talent and passion often is disconnected from the mouth that directs its movements afterwards.

Former players like Edu and Tony Adams also round out obvious speculation for the position. Both have enjoyed greater experience in administrative positions since their playing days, with the former in Brazil and the latter around lower-tier English teams. It remains to be seen if Edu would leave Brazil’s national team as its technical director, while Adams is currently scheduled to become the 29th president of the Rugby Football League this summer.

Nevertheless, even without a clear named candidate, Arsenal’s history should still be utilised in the building of their present and future. Mixing the still blooming post-Wenger era with the prime of his tenure would be the best for the club’s continual development. The last quarter-century should not be forgotten or ignored but celebrated by using those players to find more players of that same ilk and move the club forward. An Arsenal man is likely able to spot out and build up other present and future Arsenal men, logic would suggest.

Utilising the past in building the future is the best way for the Emery era to carry on with the past harmoniously, and not in its explicit opposition. Adding history, with perhaps a touch of ‘invincible’ could be the masterstroke needed to paint a better picture for Arsenal going forward.