Arsenal: Top 5 Unai Emery replacements

2. Mauricio Pochettino

You could make an argument that Mauricio Pochettino is the third-best manager in the world. Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola are currently performing on a different level to everyone else, but Pochettino enjoyed a terrific spell with Tottenham Hotspur before being harshly fired last week.

He had a net spend of £109 million during that time, less than Sheffield United. He mastered four successive top-four finishes — you have to go back to 1987 to find their last four top-four finishes. He led them to a Champions League final, a game that they ultimately deserved to win, all the while playing a progressive, entertaining brand of football that has helped develop some of the brightest talents in the game.

Now, Pochettino did not win anything at Spurs, which will always count against him, but the process of his management was superb, and over time, strong processes lead to strong results, including titles and trophies. Would Arsenal be willing to poach a former manager of their great rivals? Would Pochettino be willing to span the north London divide so quickly? These questions are difficult to answer, but if the club and the manager are willing to talk, then they absolutely should be because this could be a perfect marriage.