Mikel Arteta was awarded a brand-new Arsenal contract before the end of a season that finished in disappointment having missed out on Champions League football. This sparked much frustration despite a fifth-place finish exceeding many expectations of some supporters and meeting that of even more.
However, the idea of Arsenal changing coach next season could become a reality should things not go to plan. Arsenal have ambitions to return to the elite club of sides but the correct and often ruthless choices must be made consistently to achieve it.
Speaking to Reach scouting writer Josh Williams on The Arsenal Way, it was discussed what circumstance would legitimise a decision to change the coach. Williams was quick to point out why making a switch for the sake of a switch for just any coach would likely return little in terms of genuine change at a club.
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“There’s very few who are at the elite table. Then there’s a massive huddle of bang average coaches who are all roughly the same level. All okay, and I think if Arsenal had the opportunity at some point to ditch Arteta for [Antonio] Conte, or for [Thomas] Tuchel or for [Jurgen] Klopp or [Pep] Guardiola maybe you question that one.
“But generally, who are Arsenal going to get if Arteta leaves? That’s why I think it is a non-issue.”
However, there are some coaches who are outside of that Premier League group of elite coaches who could be considered. Putting the name Roberto Mancini to Williams, he felt that might change things.
“Luis Enrique is another one as well. I am a big fan of Enrique. They [Mancini and Enrique] are top table coaches so it is a little bit different if you can get hold of one of those.
“But I think generally, across the board, coaches in Europe are just roughly the same level and roughly have the same impact on the team. Then you have these absolute outliers. But because they are to such an extent, people pay so much attention to them and think that all the success is down to them.”
You can watch back the full show here. Containing chat regarding why Arsenal’s season ended without Champions League qualification and what signings need to be made this summer.
Arteta has ultimately taken over at Arsenal when they were in eleventh place in the table. Two back-to-back eight place finishes did little to inspire support from the fan base as a whole.
However, finishing so close to the top four and taking a big step forward has brought encouragement and a new contract. Being so young and still relatively unknown as to his potential, Arteta is somewhat of an anomaly himself.
As Williams mentioned, unless you’re going for one of those elite coaches who are at the Premier League’s top four, changing manager is unlikely to change all that much. If Arsenal had the chance to change for one of Enrique or Mancini and Arteta’s season was going poorly, it would make sense.
However, under Arteta, the club is only moving in one direction and that is up the table. Next season will be pivotal to continuing that progression.
Should the Spaniard fail and the club regresses then certainly considerations over Arteta should be taking place. There’s little room for sentiment in this sport at the Premier League level and Arsenal have shown that with the sacking of Unai Emery.
Although this feels very different with Arteta being much more firmly embedded into the running of the club with the hierarchy. There is little-to-no confidence if things took a downturn if a change would be made at the right time if necessary.
