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Arsenal: Top 5 Unai Emery replacements

By Andrew Dowdeswell

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Mikel Arteta, assistant coach of Manchester City looks on prior to the Group F match of the UEFA Champions League between Manchester City and Olympique Lyonnais at Etihad Stadium on September 19, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Mikel Arteta, assistant coach of Manchester City looks on prior to the Group F match of the UEFA Champions League between Manchester City and Olympique Lyonnais at Etihad Stadium on September 19, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 30: Pep Guardiola of Manchester City talks to Mikel Arteta, Assistant Manager of Manchester City during a training session at Manchester City Football Academy on September 30, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 30: Pep Guardiola of Manchester City talks to Mikel Arteta, Assistant Manager of Manchester City during a training session at Manchester City Football Academy on September 30, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images) /

1. Mikel Arteta

Perhaps the most volatile candidate is Mikel Arteta. How can you hire a coach who has never been a manager of any team, nevermind a first-team, senior coach at the highest level? Just thinking about it seems ridiculous. How could Arsenal hire the utterly novice Arteta when there is a five-time Serie A winner sitting out there waiting for a job?

Well, it is based on what people think of him. Here are just some quotes from players and coaches that have worked with Arteta in recent years:

  • Fabian Delph: ‘Mikel Arteta has been so pivotal for me. One of the reasons I have stayed at the club is because he saw the qualities in me and he knew I was available to do the role they wanted me to do.’
  • Leroy Sane: ‘He’s a lovely guy and a great coach. And he’s always right. He’ll watch me at training and then afterwards he’ll tell me what he thinks.’
  • Pep Guardiola: ‘He is already an incredible manager and he’ll have incredible success in his future. I’m pretty sure [he could succeed me]. Sooner or later it’s going to happen.’
  • Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez have all credited Arteta with having a major influence on their improvements at City, his work on body positioning, tactical intelligence and attacking wing play critical to City’s success.

Next. Arsenal Vs Southampton: 5 things we learned. dark

Arteta is the least experienced man on the list. And yet, he might also be the best. But would Arsenal be willing to take the risk?

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