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Arsenal: 5 managerial candidates who could replace Mikel Arteta

By Ross Kennerley

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Mikel Arteta the head coach / manager of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on August 28, 2021 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Mikel Arteta the head coach / manager of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on August 28, 2021 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Ralf Rangnick
Leipzig’s German headcoach Ralf Rangnick attends the German Cup (DFB Pokal) Final football match RB Leipzig v FC Bayern Munich at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on May 25, 2019. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP) / DFB REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND QUASI-VIDEO. (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images) /

4. Ralf Rangnick – Head of Sports and Development at FC Lokomotiv Moscow

Manager or as director of football?

If the question is would you rather have a superb director of football and an average coach or a superb coach and an average director of football, the decision would be a simple one.

Rangnick revolutionised German football with his pioneering of a back four in the Bundesliga. His work on transitional phases, intelligent pressing and effective counter-pressing have rightly seen him held in such high regard across the continent.

He also hasn’t held a managerial post since 2019. This wouldn’t be as an Arteta replacement. He could be, but this would be to help Arteta and remove Edu, so it’s sort of cheating even if his name continues to be mentioned.

The entire Red Bull footballing empire is testament to his vision. They may be a glorified branding scheme for a drinks company, but on a footballing level Rangnick has blended long-term strategic thinking with his own coaching expertise that reshapes from the ground up.

Talent ID, as well as focussing on early development and attacking principles, he is someone who everyone would trust and back to undergo the scale of rebuild at Arsenal. He wouldn’t be too shabby as a manager, either.

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