Arsenal’s manager search: four key things to consider

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has vowed the club would be “open-minded, brave and bold” as they looked to life after Arsene Wenger.

With the veteran French coach set to step down after almost 22 years in charge at the end of the season, it will be all change at the Emirates Stadium this summer.

Here are some of the key questions faced as part of Arsenal’s recruitment process.

How much does experience really matter?

Wenger was an unheralded young coach when the former Monaco boss arrived at Highbury from Japanese side Nagoya Grampus Eight to take over at Highbury in the Autumn of 1996. It would, though, be something of a surprise to see Arsenal go the same way again.

Nevertheless, Gazidis, the man likely to give a final recommendation to majority shareholder Stan Kroenke, is said to favour former Gunners midfielder Mikel Arteta. While already a popular figure, the Spaniard would bring limited first-team experience, having only just moved into coaching as assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. The same can be said of former Gunners enforcer Patrick Vieira, cutting his managerial teeth with New York City. Such an appointment would be a gamble, but then again, so is starting life after Arsene.

Different role

With Raul Sanllehi installed as head of football operations and Sven Mislintat as head of recruitment, it appears increasingly likely there will no longer be a first-team manager in Wenger’s mould. The added input of ideas, though, could also muddy the waters somewhat in terms of what exactly Arsenal are looking for in their ideal candidate.

With his Barcelona connections, it is no surprise Luis Enrique has been among the leading contenders. Julian Nagelsmann at Hoffenheim would fit the bill of a young, hungry coach, as would Domenico Tedesco at Shalke, both well-known to former Borussia Dortmund man Mislintat. Whomever eventually comes in, though, will have to be able to work within a structure which would see a lot of the tasks from Wenger’s tenure delegated elsewhere.

Modest budget

How Wenger managed to keep Arsenal competitive in the top four of the Premier League for so long without the resources afforded to his rivals was often both held up as sound accounting as well as a frustrating call to loosen the purse strings. There is, though, unlikely to be a £100million warchest awaiting the new manager, head coach or whatever their title is. Still, expect plenty of moment during the summer – with under-performing players off-loaded and fresh talent brought in to help shape the new era.

Uniting the fans

Wenger had become a divisive figure in recent seasons, something even he acknowledged after the first match since the announcement of his departure. Everyone, of course, is entitled to their own opinion, whatever it may be – but one thing above all else will swiftly get the fans onside: winning. And 1-0 to the Arsenal would not be a bad place to start.