It has been nice for Arsenal to not have to worry about Tottenham for a season. For too many years their north London neighbours have managed to finish above them in the league but the Gunners have again risen not only to a higher position but with aims beyond Champions League qualification.
However, with the managerial and sporting director position in a state of flux, there is always some wariness about what the potential of a rival can be under new tutelage. The man in the frame to take the reins appears to be Feyenoord head coach Arne Slot.
Fresh off ending a wait longer than half a decade for an Eredivisie title, Slot is the current favourite of Tottenham for the role. football.london takes a look at three things we think will definitely happen should the Dutchamn take over in N17.
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp has already given Arsenal warning for domestic cup success amid Liverpool title run
The project
With appointments like Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, even Nuno Espirito Santo, it never felt like Spurs had a long-term plan to build to consistent success and of course the desperation for a trophy. Meanwhile, under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have built slowly and consistently progressed from eleventh when he took over, to eighth, to fifth and now to a title challenge.
Arne Slot strikes many as a coach who would come in with the idea of building something at Tottenham. It took two seasons for Slot to take Feyenoord from fifth, to third and now to league champions.
His pedigree to improve and get the best from players, implement a high-intensity style, and score plenty of goals but be rigid in defence too, is very attractive to Tottenham. Arsenal would be facing a rival not playing the difficult-to-beat but turgid styles of Mourinho and Conte but instead, perhaps a team that would go toe-to-toe instead.
Eredivisie competition
As is the case with many new coaches, they like to stick with what they know. It was unsurprising to see Antonio Conte look to Serie A to bring in Ivan Perisic, Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur with varying success.
The same is sure to be expected of Slot who could look to his former nation or even club to bring in reinforcements. Erik ten Hag certainly did with Antony and Lisandro Martinez with Tyrell Malacia also coming in from Slot’s Feyenoord.
Should Arsenal have a keen eye on any talents from the Eredivisie then perhaps the fight to convince them to join the red half of north London could be made harder by a Slot-coached Spurs. That said the Champions League pull is sure to be enough for most players you would think.
Champions League boost
With Juventus being docked ten points and losing to Empoli they’re unlikely to qualify for the Champions League and therefore the Gunners will see a promotion into pot 2 for the tournament’s draw next season. As league champions, Feyenoord are going to be in pot 1 for the tournament.
With Slot gone, should Arsenal draw the Dutch side in the tournament, without their title-winning coach in charge the Gunners could have a simpler tasking navigating the two group games against them. Thank you, Tottenham.
Who is your Arsenal player of the season? Have your say by voting below!
READ NEXT:
Former Arsenal captain tells Edu to complete four transfers before trying to sign Declan Rice
Declan Rice transfer latest: Arsenal advantage, Tuchel twist, £92m offer, Chelsea 'out of race'
Confirmed Arsenal senior players under contract for next season after Bukayo Saka announcement
Declan Rice sparks Arsenal transfer frenzy with four-word Bukayo Saka message
Arsenal news and transfer LIVE: All the latest updates from the Emirates Stadium
