Mikel Arteta has yet another Tottenham coach to face having outlasted Nuno Espirito Santo, Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Ryan Mason (again). Despite all the Spaniard’s critics and Arsenal’s north London rivals having some of the most decorated coaches on the planet in charge, the Gunners have usurped Tottenham and regained firm control as the dominant force.
This time, however, Tottenham have gone down a different path. Announced today, Ange Postecoglou has been named as the new head coach of the club on a four-year deal.
Although Spurs will have no European action next season, the appointment does indeed raise some eyebrows with many calling it a rather sensible decision. football.london takes a look at the three things that are almost certain to impact Arsenal amid the appointment.
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A project manager
Like Arsenal, Spurs now have what would be described by most as a project coach. Postecoglou offers the north London side a chance to establish a long-term vision rather than the ‘win now, worry later’ approaches of Mourinho and Conte.
Spurs have regressed persistently and have now fallen out of Europe in its entirety. Arsenal will hope that the success of their own project will not be mirrored by their rivals and will need to ensure they’re dominant in all their meetings and potentially rivalling them for transfer targets, if appropriate.
Spurs have had coaches where there was something of a longer-term thought process, however, Espirito Santo and Andre Villas-boas couldn’t find the formula. Mauricio Pochettino, who recently returned to England with Chelsea, reached a Champions League final but couldn’t win them the forbidden fruit of a trophy.
Scottish market insight
As with any new coach, often they like to bring familiarity with them. Erik ten Hag for instance signed Lisandro Martinez and Antony from his former club Ajax for huge amounts of money.
Could Spurs be looking now at Postecoglou’s former club Celtic for potential stars? There’s little in terms of public knowledge around Arsenal’s interest in any Celtic or even Scottish League talent, in general, this summer, but should it exist behind the scenes, Spurs’ appointment could spark some greater urgency.
Arsenal look more likely to sell their Scottish Premiership import, Kieran Tierney. Very unlikely that a sale to their rivals would happen in this case but in future cases there might be some greater competition now.
Underestimation
Arsenal fans have already begun swarming to social media to tweet and post delight at the lack of a Julian Nagelsmann or Pochettino return to Spurs this summer. Most have already written off Postecoglou but that in itself is a dangerous thing to do and probably the most perfect scenario for the Australian who has always fought for his reputation.
Having won plenty of honours in Scotland, after further pieces of silverware in Japan and Australia, Postecoglou will be looking to prove the doubters wrong and has plenty of motivation to do so. There’s a decrease in pressure and expectation to the Mourinho and Conte appointments and that could indeed work in his favour, something Arsenal cannot afford to do.
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