In typically classy fashion, Stan Kroenke and the Arsenal board is reacting with gratitude and sorrow to Wenger's announcement that he'll be leaving this summer. I suppose he may have come to this conclusion himself, but I don't think so. He does deserve for it to play out this way. It's not a bad time to make this announcement: all the potential candidates for his job (more on that later) now know it'll be open, we need some shaking up, and everyone will still be motivated to finish strongly in Europa League.
While I have been hoping for this day for years, like nearly all Arsenal supporters I'm deeply grateful to Arsene. His flaws were easily forgivable (except for the not winning trophies for nine years part) because it was evident that he loved the club and his players, and nearly all of them loved him too. There will never be another Sir Alex, but M. Wenger is at least in that conversation. He's one of the greats.
As for replacements, I'd like to see Monaco's Leonardo Jardim chosen, but Thomas Tuchel or Luis Enrique would be interesting. I don't want Low and definitely don't want Brendan fucking Rodgers. Tuchel would have a huge issue with our new head of recruitment Mislintat unless they could manage to act maturely enough to get past their bust-up at Dortmund. I used to think Simeone was in the running, but I don't see his name in the odds sheets now. PSG or Chelsea may outbid us for our first choice. But if you were a big time manager, the prospect of working for an organization that likes to give its manager lots of power and time might be a big draw. We aren't a Mourinho organization, the way I see it, willing to break the bank for a year on top and then wave bye-bye to the manager after a disappointing followup. We want a long term relationship now. I'd definitely take three League championships and seven FA Cups in the next 22 years.
But with Arsenal, who knows? It could be Eddie Howe or Patrick Vieira. Would you really be surprised?
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