Arsenal: Pay what you have to for new head coach

Arsenal are on the lookout for a new head coach. As they look to secure the best man for the job, they must pay what they have to secure him.

When Manchester United sacked Jose Mourinho last season, questions abounded about what they would do to solve their manager’s position. In the post-Ferguson era, the club has struggled mightily to find a suitable coach to lead the team. Mourinho was the latest failure. United could not afford to get the next decision wrong.

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They would eventually settle on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who impressed as interim head coach. But during their search, there were plenty of rumours linking them with Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino. In the end, they chose Solskjaer, but some were questioning whether United should have gone all-in on Pochettino.

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At the time, I argued that United should have offered everything they had to prise Pochettino away from Spurs. It would have taken a healthy pay packet, yes, but Pochettino is an elite manager, and as we have seen with Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, the manager is the most important figure at a club. If teams are willing to pay £200 million for a player, they should be willing to pay double for a manager.

This brings me to Arsenal’s pursuit of a new head coach. After sacking Unai Emery last week, they are now looking for their second manager in the post-Arsene Wenger era. They are attempting to steer clear of the calamitous period that United have endured since Ferguson retired six years ago. To do that, they must hire the right head coach. And, like United and Pochettino, they might have to pay to get him.

Sadly, however, it seems as though Arsenal are unwilling to do so. Per James Olley of the London Evening Standard, the Gunners have a small budget with which to appoint an elite manager, and it could be a stumbling block in their pursuit of the best:

"“The Gunners are working on a limited budget in their search and are consequently unable to offer a salary competitive with the game’s elite. The compensation packages required to prise Rodgers from Leicester or Nuno Espirito Santo are a significant obstacle.”"

How true these reports are remains to be seen. It was also said that Arsenal were not going to spend lavishly in the summer and they topped £100 million. But it is not improbable that the club is working on a smaller budget, given Stan Kroenke’s hesitance to invest. And if that is the case, and if it results in them failing to secure their number one target, it would be extremely disappointing.

Just as United have discovered with Solskjaer, appointing the right manager is the start of a successful rebuild. It does not matter how much it costs, the head coach is the most important man in the building. Arsenal have to get this decision right, and money should be no object.