FT English Premier League Preview: Can Unai Emery Get Arsenal Back to Top 4

Unai Emery head coach of Arsenal interviews during the International Champions Cup match between Arsenal and Paris Saint Germain at the National Stadium on July 28, 2018 in Singapore. “Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images AsiaPac'“

Long-serving Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, ended his stay at the helm of the London club in May after leading the team for over 20 years. He pointed out that he did not want things to turn out as they did where the Arsenal fans were seen protesting in the stadiums and some flying planes over the pitch with quotes “#WengerOut” and “Thank you for the memories, but it is time to say goodbye”. The Emirates Stadium became hostile even for the Arsenal players who were bashed by the fans for ‘not being worthy to wear the shirt.’ All these challenges were faced by the club less than three months ago before the club appointed the new head coach, Unai Emery. His task is to make sure that all this does not happen and also make sure that the team performs on the pitch. Here’s how we think he will fair this season.

Since the fans were divided on their opinion over Wenger, the atmosphere created in the stadium did not help the players on the pitch. Now, with the appointment of Emery, we see the fans of Arsenal united once again behind the club, and they look like they are ready to back the manager in this post-Wenger era. The new boss has since thanked the fans for supporting him and asks them to be patient and help the team in the upcoming season. He promised them some entertaining football which is part of the identity of the club. By doing this, he has curbed any form of negativity which affected Arsenal’s performances on the pitch last season. This is an excellent step towards success.

Also, he is dealing away with some aspects of Wengerball which frustrated the fans in recent years. Arsenal was playing sideways passes whenever they ran out of ideas and Unai identified this problem before stepping into the big shoes left by the Arsenal legend. In the recent pre-season friendlies, we have already noticed some changes in the style of play as the club is trying out new things like putting the ball over the top which was hardly seen at the Emirates. New signing Matteo Guendouzi released Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang through on goal with a delightful lobbed pass, which the Gabonese forward subsequently failed to convert. Sead Kolasinac also did the same for Mkhitaryan in the match against Paris-Saint Germain, which the London club won 5-1. It is these passes that will cause havoc in the EPL and bring them more goals to the ones they scored last season.

Apart from that, Arsenal conceded the most goals (51) out of all the teams in the top 6 last season. They have had challenges with defending for quite some time now, and captain Koscielny’s injury does not make the situation better. However, Emery with the help of Sven Mislintat and Raul Sanllehi, has invested in new defensive options through the purchases of Stephan Litchsteiner and Sokratis. These players have a defensive mindset and are ready to be physical as opposed to most of the Arsenal players who are very laid back and quoted by Troy Deeney as to be lacking ‘cojones’. The hope is for them to help stop the gaps at the back in the club’s search for a top 4 finish.
 

Furthermore, coach Emery has introduced a new way of working at the club. He is seen taking the players for double training sessions and spending more time in the gym with them. He believes in having a squad full of players who work hard throughout the 90 minutes. This requires a lot of preparation, and he has been doing just that. When Arsenal played against Boreham Wood, there was a sense of urgency to get back the ball as soon as they lost it which is different from Wenger’s style. The Arsenal team was vulnerable when they lost possession of the ball and were prone to conceding on the counter. Now, they fight as a team to get the ball back before attacking. This style of play is encouraging to see for the Arsenal fans and has raised their hopes as the 2017/18 season draws near. For the first time in years, the Arsenal fans are optimistic that their team will perform well.

It seems as if the boss has identified the weaknesses of the squad and is working on improving them before the season starts. Do you think Arsenal will be ready to push for top 4 finish let alone mount a challenge for the title? Drop your comments below.

FT World Cup 2018: Tunisia's Tournament in Review

Like all African states, the Eagles of the Carthage came into the World Cup oozing with hope and pride for the African continent. Little did they know that they will be slapped with a loss from England, followed by a heavy blow of loss from Belgium. To redeem themselves, the Tunisians exited the tournament with inflicting the same kind of loss on Panama with a 2-1 win. Even though the departure was sooner than hoped for, the lessons learned were timely. Below is an overview of the learning curve.

Tunisia vs England

FirstTouch had predicted that this should be a game not to miss because of the certainty that the Eagles will bring their fight forward. They did live up to the expectation. They were flexible enough to change their strategy to a 5-3-1-1 during their second half of the game which tightened the bolts and made it hard for England to go past their defense line. The pressure on England was too much. Only Harry Kane stood in their way to victory when he scored twice for England and only allowing Tunisia to take one goal away. The 2-1 loss was not enough to discourage the North Africans as they went to devise more strategies to face Belgium in their next game.

Tunisia vs Belgium

This was the hardest and most dramatic match that the team faced throughout the tournament. Firstly, they had a new man (Farouk Ben Mustaph) at the goal post after their initial goalkeeper Mouez Hassen got injured in their first match against England. This level of flexibility is commendable. This did, of course, have negative implications for their game. Secondly, two of their players had to leave the game early due to injuries. It might have been these loopholes that allow Belgium to kick in the ball into the net 5 times. Lukaku scored two goals before the first half. Even after he left the game, the rest of the team carried the job to the very end of the 5-2 victory. This was the lowest point for the Eagles, but not all hope was lost because they still needed to face Panama.

Tunisia vs Panama

Tunisia proved that losing your former battles does not translate to absolute loss. You learn from them and come back stronger, as they gave Panama the same taste of what England gave them: 2-1 loss. In this game, Panama struck first in the 33rd minute with Jose Luis Rodriguez. This was after the Tunisian goalkeeper had not just one grip of the ball, but held it twice in the 18th minute to make sure that they did not lose this one. Tunisia was not held back by that first stab, as Fakhreddine Ben Youssef scored in the 50th minute. Just 16 minutes before the referee blew the whistle, Wahbi Khazri came in to redeem the team and ensured that the team leaves the tournament with some respect. The team is not just leaving empty handed but leaving with some lessons that will inform their next tournaments.

"For Tunisia's narrative, it's one of slight disappointment. We went into the tournament not expecting a miracle after having lost our best player Msakni. We knew our only chance was to get a result against England. We fought hard and were just 90 seconds away from making the country proud. That loss demoralized us and we went into the Belgium game physically and mentally weakened. We couldn't capitalize on our chances, and we were left fighting for our honor against Panama. We were able to salvage what could've been yet another winless World Cup (Tunisia holds the record of most winless games in a row with 11 or 12). The win against Panama was our first in 40 years!" - From Tunisian Fan Perspective, Amine

Lessons Learned

• Being flexible enough to change your strategy in the middle of the game is important.

• The ability to play in different roles is a definite treasure for teams.

• Learning from your mistakes as a team is the whole point of the game.

• The ability to persevere through a match can enable a team to turn its losses to amazing wins.

Evaluation

Not all good plays result in a win. Tunisia played well in the team, especially when it came to the strength of its defensive line. The only issue is that they conceded too many goals, but as their coach Nabil Maaloul says, it was only when they “met with very tough opponents”. The coach went on to say that they came into the group hoping that they could at least be third in the group, and yes, their hopes were fulfilled.

Critical Issue

They need to train more of their goalkeepers to avoid the concession to so many goals. The ability to shoot right at the net would also be necessary for them to be at their best at the Africa Cup of Nations.

FT World Cup 2018: Morocco's Tournament in Review

Lacked a cutting edge, but a lot of positives to pick up from one of the toughest groups

If we are to be realistic, not much was expected of Morocco after being seeded in Group B with European giants Portugal, Spain as well as Iran. Of course, we were behind them as they raised the flag of Africa sky high and hoped that they would have enough to cause an upset in the group and prove that matches are not won on paper. Here’s a recap of their performance in the tournament.

Morocco vs Iran (June 15)

FirstTouch Africa previewed the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia competition ahead of time and we anticipated that they would bring their exciting passing game to Iran and dazzle the fans. They never came short of that expectation. For the longest parts of the match, Morocco was the dominant team. Benatia was rock solid at the back as usual, and Amrabat was a threat on the byline. What was lacking for the Lions of the Atlas (أسود الأطلس‎) was that Didier Drogba type of forward who could bury all the chances home especially the ones they created in the first 20 minutes. They played like their lives depended on it, and it was no surprise that Iran had only 32% possession to show for their lucky victory against the African team. Morocco unfortunately lost by virtually the last kick of the match through an own goal by Aziz Bouhaddouz on the 95th minute. That performance was promising, and expectations started building up towards the match against the European Champions, Portugal.

Portugal vs Morocco (June 20)

Morocco needed a response but they could only do so much in a match against a defensively resolute Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo scored early for Portugal through a fierce header on the 4th minute, and it was enough to confirm Morocco’s early exit from the biggest individual sporting event in the world as they failed to find the back of the net for the second consecutive match. That one goal kept the fans on the edge of their seats throughout the match with Morocco giving all the effort they could in a do-or-die match. The Portuguese full-back, Rafael Guerrero had the longest 90 minutes of his career facing Amrabat and Dirar who bombed upfield whenever they had the opportunity. Again, no one was on the receiving end of the dangerous balls from the flanks and Morocco had no one to blame but themselves for not finishing past Rui Patricio. With two defeats, Morocco was out of the tournament days into the competition.

Spain vs Morocco (June 25)

It was a match of pride really. Irzem and Atlasi were out to prove that they were not a pushover and issue a strong closing statement as they bowed out of the tournament. Morocco learned from their mistakes as forward Khalid Boutaib scored their first goal in the tournament on the 14th minute to stun Spain. The Spaniards responded through Isco a few minutes later, and it was all-square when the teams went in for a break. The VAR evidently determined the fate of the teams in Group B, and it is quite surprising that some incidents went unpunished like Gerard Pique’s double-foot challenge. Nonetheless, Morocco again found the lead for the second time in the match through substitute En Nesyri on the 81st minute. An African team was on the verge of breaking the Spaniard’s 22-game unbeaten run. Fellow substitute Iago Aspas also scored on the other end to make sure that Spain shares the spoils with أسود الأطلس‎ in their last match of the tournament. It was a proud moment when the referee ended the match as Morocco proved to the world that they could play against the top 2 teams in Europe and give them a run for their money.

Lessons Learned

1. Morocco’s style of play causes problems for any team they face.

2. There is room for improvement in terms of finishing.

3. VAR is not always fair.

4. Achraf Hakimi is one for the future.

5. Coach Herve Renard’s tactics were spot on.

Evaluation

Morocco was fairly good in the tournament. They had a lot of players who play in the most competitive leagues in the world, and it was beautiful to watch them in sync as they played a possession football that even Arsene Wenger would be proud of. The players played out of passion and love for the game and nothing else. If Morocco were named in any other group, they probably would have made it to the next round because Group B had brutal fixtures.

Critical Issue

They need to find sharp-shooters who are ruthless in front of goal and take the 2019 African Cup of Nations by storm.

Arsenal win on Wenger’s last match

Arsenal’s long-reigning manager, Arsene Wenger, took charge of his last match as the boss on Sunday against Huddersfield away from home. The club had not collected a single point since the turn of the year and were looking to end on a more favorable note in the Frenchman’s last match. A strong line-up was announced for the away side which saw an attacking trio of Aubameyang, Lacazette, and Mkhitaryan lead the line ahead of Ramsey, Iwobi, and Granit Xhaka. Nerves were flying high for the Arsenal team who were out to prove a point that they have potential to be great again under the right tutelage of a competent manager. Huddersfield had a better start and looked to spoil the party for Wenger’s farewell celebrations as Tom Ince failed to bury home a cut-back from Alex Pritchard. As the match progressed, two planes flew over the stadium paying tribute to Arsene Wenger. One had the hashtag #OneArseneWenger and the other with a message, “Merci Arsene. We’ll miss you too.”

It was such an emotional match and the manager’s last signing ever, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang stole the show as he finished off an Aaron Ramsey pass on the 38th minute. The Gabon international was out to thank the manager for believing in him and allowing him the opportunity to test himself out in the English Premier League. This goal against Huddersfield means that Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang has scored a total of 10 Premier League goals. The forward has already proved a gem for the team and the next manager would have to find ways to make him play against Lacazette because he can also create goals having assisted 4 since January. Arsenal resisted a couple of efforts from Huddersfield to grind out Arsene Wenger’s 716th win as well as picking up the club’s first points in 2018. It would have been better if he managed to win the UEFA Europa League this season but his team was eliminated by Atletico Madrid in the semifinals. We are grateful that he leaves the club with other memories such as winning the English Premier League in the 2001/02 season without losing a single match. Au revoir Arsene!

Sir Alex Ferguson recovering from brain surgery

One of football’s legends and former Manchester United coach, Sir Alex Ferguson, was admitted to the hospital and underwent an emergency surgery for a brain hemorrhage. This news came as a shocker to the football world to hear that the former manager who looked in perfect condition recently as he handed Wenger a trophy on Arsenal’s clash against Manchester United was now in intensive care at Salford Royal Hospital.

His former club, Manchester United, released a statement, “Manchester United would like to thank its friends in the wider football world for the countless messages of support that have been conveyed following the news that Sir Alex Ferguson underwent emergency surgery on Saturday evening.”

The club were not alone in sending him warm and touching comments as some players like Lingard, Rooney, Carrick, etc. all had something to say to a man who once managed them at the club. The manager who won 13 Premier League titles at Old Trafford has reported being out of intensive care and is continuing his recovery from the surgery. More information is now coming out about the incident leading to hospitalization which states that the former rival of Arsene Wenger was taken ill after falling at home.

Join us in wishing him a speedy recovery as he continues his rehabilitation in private as requested by his family.

Aubameyang scores but Arsenal’s woes continue

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been nothing short of spectacular since his move from Borussia Dortmund. The Gabon international has come to the English Premier League deemed the most competitive of them all and has already managed to score 9 goals and provide 4 assists in just 10 starts as according to WhoScored. The African player had already done the most in the Germany where he scored 21 goals in all competitions at club level. Combined, the Aubameyang has scored 30 goals in all competitions this season excluding the one goal he scored for his nation in an international friendly game. This deserves so much praise for a player who joined a team in the middle of the season just like some international players like Alexis Sanchez but has still managed to outscore them. Of those goals, one of them came from today’s match between Arsenal and Leicester City.

Iheanacho opened the scoring in the 14th minute. The Nigerian international has not been in the best of form this season unlike his fellow African counterpart Aubameyang as this is only his second goal in the league. Iheanacho was dangerous on the night though as he was clean through on goal before being brought down by young Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos. The Greek defender was shown a red card and Arsenal were short. Arsenal held on until Aubameyang came to the rescue and score in the 53rd minute. Arsenal was level on matters and was looking to pull a comeback but their hopes were shattered by Jamie Vardy’s penalty who scored after Grey was brought down in the box by Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Another African player claimed a stake from the match between the two teams. Algerian born winger Riyad Mahrez scored the 3rd and final goal for Leicester to seal their 3-1 win against Arsenal. Arsenal have not won a single point this year away from home which can be a mental challenge for the players that the incoming Arsenal coach has to deal with in the new season. Wenger has one final chance to win on a note and win points away from in their match against Huddersfield on the 13th of May.

Arsenal familiarize themselves with disappointment in 2-1 loss to ATM

It must be really tough to be an Arsenal fan. The English club went into the match with an aim to score one goal and prevent Atletico Madrid from scoring. That’s all they needed, one goal unlike teams like AS Roma who needed about 5 goals to turn the tie. Wenger used the same team that played against Atletico Madrid last week which meant that Mkhitaryan could only afford a place on the bench. Diego Simeone shacked things up a bit as he trusted his most versatile player, Thomas Partey, in right back as opposed to his usual midfield role. The Ghanaian defensive midfielder has been one of the standout players in both ties against Arsenal. He was trusted to cover at right back in the last stages of the first leg clash and that performance was enough to convince Simeone to trust him in that position once more. Arsenal failed to score a goal in the first half thanks to his interceptions and blocks which prevented the gunners from whipping in dangerous crosses from the right. It was in the 45th minute that Partey’s teammate, Diego Costa scored the goal to give the advantage to Atletico Madrid. The second half was even better by the English side as they tried to instigate attacks but the Ghanaian player blocked most of those attempts by intercepting crucial passes by Ozil, Ramsey, Monreal, and Xhaka on the right. Even when Mkhitaryan was called upon the pitch to replace Wilshere, Arsenal never produced enough to worry his defense. The few opportunities created by Ozil went begging as there was no one in the right spot to parry it home. Godin took most of the shine as well for clearing these useless attempts.

This match was meant to be a memorable night for Wenger in his last away match in European competition as Arsenal boss. He was seen squatting near the touchline from the 85th minute but his team could not produce a result. Much credit to Partey and his manager Simeone who coached his team from the stands. He prepared the team for this fight and they succeeded in knocking out Arsenal out of the UEFA Europa tournament. Simeone is on to the final. Maybe if he is announced as the next Arsenal boss, he should bring the African player to Arsenal and solve the defensive problems they have been having since Patrick Vieira left in July 2005. These disappointing results from a team with a weak mentality is what the new coach will have to deal with. What a tough ask!

Liverpool’s Number 2 in line to become the next Arsenal boss

Jurgen Klopp’s assistant manager for 17 years has decided to take some time off the first team duties because of personal reasons. The man in question Zeljko Buvac who has worked with Sven Mislintat before at Borussia Dortmund and the new Arsenal’s head of recruitment is believed to be an admirer of Klopp’s number 2. He is reported to be pushing for him to become the next Arsenal manager after Wenger leaves at the end of this season. Buvac has worked with Klopp since his days at Mainz and he has been called ‘the best signing ever’ by the Liverpool boss. He is believed to be the brains behind the German coach’s success which is no surprise why Sven Mislintat is vouching for him. These reports are starting to paint a picture of the type of manager that Arsenal is looking for. They are more into someone who has experience with big clubs whether being a coach, assistant or even a retired player who played at the highest level and understands the pressure of having to win every match.

Questions have been raised about Buvac though by analysts like the former Liverpool midfielder, Danny Murphy. He said, “I would find it unbelievable to appoint someone who has never, ever managed as a number one at a club like Arsenal. I think that would be ridiculous for a club like Arsenal.” The former defender does not care how intelligent Buvac might be because he has not proved his worth as the main guy. Therefore, he is not ready for a big club like Arsenal. Do you think Murphy is right?

Arsenal fail to capitalize on disadvantaged Atletico as they draw 1-1 at home

The Emirates Stadium looked packed for the first time in a while ahead of the clash between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid in the semifinals of the UEFA Europa League. The night marked Arsene Wenger’s last home match in Europe and he was looking to end it on a climax. The fans were pumped up and ready to give their all as the ready whistled kick off. The referee wanted to let the players know that he was the one in command he did not waste time before flashing a yellow card to Vrsaljiko for a late challenge on Jack Wilshere. The player was standing in for Juanfran at right-back since the Spaniard is injured. Vrsaljiko was silly to make a challenge on Lacazette and the referee showed him a second yellow in the 10th minute and Atletico Madrid were down to 10 men with more than 80 minutes to go. Hector Bellerin was involved in a clash with Koke shortly after and Diego Simeone reacted outrageously which saw the referee sending him off to the stands. The Gooners could not have a better advantage to put it a great performance against the wounded Madrid side. Wenger’s men, however, failed to produce a goal before the referee called for halftime. Atletico Madrid reshaped pretty well and showed discipline.

The Spanish club never really looked like they were a man down as they also created chances to match what Arsenal were doing. Both teams wasted a couple of opportunities before Jack Wilshere’s cross was headed past Jan Oblak by Lacazette. 1-0 and Arsenal looked like they were going to score more. Atletico Madrid went back into their shell and defended with their lives while waiting for counterattacks. As you might have guessed, it only took one counter-attack and Griezmann was through on goal with only Koscielny as a threat. The French defender failed to clear the ball and Griezmann got past the on-rushing Ospina. Mustafi had the chance to block Griezmann’s shot from going in but he slipped and saw the want-away striker score Atletico Madrid’s equalizer in the 82nd minute. That was it as Arsenal failed to capitalize on their advantage. The return leg would be a steeper mountain to climb with Diego Costa expected to be fit and will start from the beginning of the match. Will Arsenal have enough to win in Spain after struggling in their away form this season?

There is hope for Santi Cazorla

The 33-year old Spaniard was seen running on the pitch today ahead of Arsenal’s match with Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Europa League. Santi Cazorla has been injured since 2016 with an Achilles that has been operated 10 times to date. The player was told by the doctors that he would not be returning to the pitch anytime soon and might not be able to walk if he is not careful after the injury had a terrible infection. The player has since been on the recovery even though his return date still remains a mystery.

Wenger has confirmed that Arsenal will assess the player’s fitness at the end of the season before offering him a new contract. The player has been missed in the heart of midfield because of his ability to dribble past any tight situations and whisker a pass with any foot to turn defense into attack. We hope that his light session in the warm-up is an early sign that the player is ready to finally make a return and challenge for a place in Arsenal who will have a new manager in the summer after Wenger leaves.

Carlo Ancelotti offered Italy job

The Italy national team did not want to waste their time in offering the experienced Carlo Ancelotti to become the head coach. This decision came from a meeting that helped between Ancelotti and the representatives of the Italian Football Association in a meeting that is believed to have lasted for an hour-and-a-half. The manager has been out of a job since being sacked by Bayern Munich in September last year and was replaced by Jupp Heynckes. The manager has since been on the radar of Arsenal who are looking for a perfect replacement for the outgoing Arsene Wenger.

Ancelotti is still yet to accept the offer for the Italy national team job which fuels speculation as to why he has not. Rumors are circulating that the 58-year old is interested in the soon-to-be-vacant job in the English Premier League with a club that has been well run over the years. He recently refused to rule himself out of the job and some fans have since expressed their admiration of a manager who is great at bringing out the best in players as well as playing an attractive form of football that has since become the identity of Arsenal since 1996. We are to believe that Ancelotti will use this offer to push Arsenal into reacting if they are seriously considering the experienced Italian boss who has managed the biggest clubs in Europe. He has managed to win 3 UEFA Champions League trophies and that is definitely something that Ivan Gazidis should be looking at considering that Arsenal are still yet to win one European competition. Will Ancelotti accept the offer or will he risk it and wait for Arsenal who might not even be considering him?

Mourinho reveals summer transfer plans

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho finally learns how it feels to be edged by competitors on the transfer market. The Portuguese coach enjoyed torturing Arsene Wenger for failing to win the Premier League in over 13 years and now the manager is on his way out. Mourinho joined cash rich Chelsea and managed to win a couple of trophies before leaving for Madrid. He later came back to the club and won the Premier League one more time before being announced as the new boss at Old Trafford. His local rivals invested a lot more than United and Mourinho now feels the impact. He acknowledges defeat in the league this season and claims that his side does not have enough players. Manchester City are spending a lot more than United while Mourinho is just going to have to be replacing players.

Michael Carrick recently announced that he will be retiring from football at the end of the season and Marouane Fellaini could also possibly leave the red-half of Manchester this summer. This means that the club will be looking for midfield replacements first before attempting to look for reinforcements in other positions. The team lacks a commanding defender who can bring out the best in Eric Bailly who looks like a different player from the one that was leading the defense before getting injured in December last year. Manchester United will have to spend big bucks if they are to push for the title next season but the chances of that happening are very slim. Will the Glazers come around and provide Mourinho with a war chest in the summer?

Feature: The curious case of replacing Arsene Wenger

The football world was blown away when Arsene Wenger stepped out to the public and stated that he would be leaving the club at the end of this season. This was quite shocking considering that Arsene has claimed to have respected all his contracts as a coach and he is currently on a 2-year contract that expires next season. This leaves us with a lot of questions as to why the legend just decides to go at the end of this season. Could it be that he faced the reality that the club was ailing in his hands instead of progressing like he thought he could make them? But this was just one of the stories that were in the headlines on this day. Many people had their thoughts on Wenger’s decision as well as his legacy and replacements.

Mesut Ozil was the first player to share his sentiment on Arsene Wenger. It is well known that the former Real Madrid star swapped the tremendous Spanish club for Arsene in a £42.5m move. He has since claimed that Wenger was a significant influence in him moving to the English side ahead of other big offers from clubs such Bayern Munich in Germany and the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United who were interested in his services. The player has said that he is proud to have made that decision and come to Arsenal and play against a manager of Wenger’s stature. The coach believes in an attacking team that allows the midfielders to dominate the game in possession and splitting the opposition with some timely passes.

Another player who played Wenger shared his thoughts on Wenger’s imminent departure. Lukas Podolski acknowledges that 22 years at the helm of one club is quite a feat but leaves a lot of marks now that he is going. The German played for Arsenal for 2-and-a-half years before moving to Galatasaray. He is also curious to find out which direction the club will take after his former boss’ decision. He is quoted as having said, “It's a question of whether they want someone with experience like Arsene Wenger, a guy like Carlo Ancelotti, or maybe a young, hungry coach.” This is something that is on everyone’s mind because this is the first time the club is on the market after 22 years.

Arsenal Chairman, Ivan Gazidis, had a lot to say about Wenger’s legacy. He is obviously grateful to the manager for the legacy that he leaves at the club. He also took the opportunity to reassure the fans that the club will be on the hunt for a manager who will take Arsenal to the next level. Gazidis said, “The process begins today. I want to keep that process in-house. This club has to rise to the challenge. You don't find a replacement for Arsene Wenger. You find a new path forward.” The club has to be bold in making that decision when they eventually have to choose from a pool of options because they have made a lot of mistakes in the past when other great managers like Klopp and Guardiola were available. Could they go for the experienced Ancelotti like Podolski mentioned?

We also looked at what Ancelotti thought about the idea of joining Arsenal. The Italian has been out of a job since last September when Bayern Munich sacked him. The manager refused to rule himself out of a job saying, “I can say I would like to work again, but that depends on me. If I find the right possibility, the right project I would be delighted to continue.” We take hints from his message that he is referring to Arsenal because they are a club who have been well run and have a great crop of talent that lack motivation. He is known for bringing the best out of a player and it would be interesting if the club decides to go for him.

Spanish football expert, Guillem Balague also had this opinion on who should come to the Emirates Stadium and replace Wenger. He looked at the prospect of former Barcelona coach Enrique leading the Gooners with his attacking mentality which suits the way the club has been playing under the current coach. Balague believes that Luis Enrique is interested in the job after having a season out of football waiting for the right job to appear. It is quite sad that everyone is now focused on who will be leading the club next season while the Frenchman is still left with less than two months.  

Jamie Redknapp has come out and stated that no one should feel sorry for the Frenchman. This is because the manager has had an opportunity that lasted for 22 years. What is sad is seeing a coach being sacked after one year and never having another opportunity to coach another top club ever again. Everyone should instead respect the Frenchman and celebrate his legacy which leaves fond memories for the Arsenal faithful. Redknapp thinks that the club is now ready for someone who has a connection with the club like Thierry Henry. He believes the former Arsenal captain has the hunger that the club needs if they are to maintain their status as a top club in Europe.

What next for Wenger you may ask? Some believe he still has a lot to offer in football but not at Arsenal. Arsene has had control at Arsenal for so many years and probably should not be appointed as the Director of Football as it might bring conflict with whoever comes in to replace him as a coach and fails to agree with him on certain things. Instead, Wenger can lead a club like PSG who are on the lookout for a top manager, and he is undeniably that and more. With the right players, he can deliver.  

Arsenal boss unsure of Wilshere’s plans

Another week passes by and England midfielder, Jack Wilshere has not yet signed the contract extension with Arsenal which is believed to be on his table for quite some time. The player says he is focusing on his performances and trying to be fit for the World Cup before thinking about extending his contract. This has left his boss a little bit in the dark about whether the player really wants to be at Arsenal. Arsene Wenger has, however, is confident that the player will eventually sign. Quite confused by those two statement? Us too.

Wenger said, “He has an offer for a long-term contract and I hope at some stage he will sign it. As a club we want the players to stay and to be paid well and I believe that everybody would agree that we pay our players very well.”

There probably is something that is holding the player from putting pen to paper but we cannot help but wonder what that is. The Arsenal boss says he did not set a deadline for the player to sign the contract but expects that the player would get back to them before the World Cup. This is an interesting story because both the club, and the player, claim to be in love with each other which is what makes us wonder why the player has not signed on the dotted line. Could it be that the terms in the contract do not meet his financial expectations? But Wenger claims they pay their players well? There are rumors that newly promoted Wigan want to submit an audacious bid to the player and take him away from the gunners for good. Do you have a theory of why the player has not signed yet and where it could possibly end? FirstTouch is here to listen.

Reiss Nelson close to signing new deal

The young Arsenal forward who has been on everyone’s lips since his pre-season match against Benfica, has been handed a couple of first team appearances this season. The player was primarily deployed in the right-wingback position in a make-shift 3-4-3 formation when the manager wanted to rest Bellerin and the Ox before he left for Liverpool. He has made 15 appearances in total and his full debut in the EPL came in the last match between Arsenal and Southampton which was played at the Emirates and he was placed in a more advanced position i.e. right wing. Reiss Nelson is an energetic 18 year old winger who has the confidence of beating any defender he comes against. The player has revealed that the club have decided to reward him with a new contract after his decent performances for Arsenal and he is willing to sign it.

Here’s what he had to say, “It is a big achievement to sign for a big club like Arsenal so I'm just delighted with the contract and hopeful that I can sign it soon.”

The England under 19 player was one of the many names that were anticipated to be handed first team opportunities by Wenger after the club fell back in the top 4 race and the club shifted their focus towards qualifying for the UEFA Champions League through the Europa League.  

Who should play for Arsenal in the remainder of games in the EPL?

March is usually the turning point period for the gunners in the fight for a place in the top four. This has not been the case this year as they are 13 points further from fourth and do not look like they will qualify through the league. This raises questions on who should be playing for the remainder of the games as they make no difference towards achieving their yearly objectives. Many see this as an opportunity for the youngsters to get some EPL caps under their belt and help bring some confidence to the inexperienced newcomers who have showed a lot of potential since the start of the campaign. The first being Reiss Nelson. The explosive winger has been deployed as defensive cover for Bellerin in the right-wing back position. However, his performances in the U23s as a right forward have yielded 8 goals in 10 games. This shows that the boy has the creative threat and is also not shy to dribble at defenders. Next up is Eddie Nketiah. The Arsenal fans remember this name because of his heroic efforts when he scored 2 goals as a late substitute in the Carabao Cup match against Norwich. Ever since, his minutes have been very limited for a promising introduction to a player. The Europa League was an opportunity for him to challenge for a spot against Welbeck in the absence of Lacazette but he came short. Maybe the manager will give him a run of games in these last matches to prepare him for next season. Maitland-Niles has already been introduced in many EPL games debutising for Monreal and Kolasinac when they were either injured or out of form. His natural position is central midfield but his speed makes him versatile and adaptable to any position he plays. FirstTouch Football appreciate your thoughts. Tell us whom you think should also be mentioned among these players that need to be given more opportunities by Wenger.

The Arsenal boss believes he is being discriminated by his age

Arsene Wenger has commented about his situation at Arsenal and he feels that criticism directed at him is not fair. He believes that the negative energy towards him is discrimination and that is coming because of his age. The manager has faced calls to leave the club after 21 years in charge and is convinced that he is on the spotlight because of his age more than it is because of bad results. Rumors have been going around that the manager will finally step down this summer because of his failure to bring the Premier League to the Emirates in 14 years. Wenger, however, has accepted that he will be criticized since he is in a public job. The 68-year old is trying his best to bring success to the club. He has the experience. Do you think time is up for him?

Arsenal win 3-1 at home

Arsene Wenger set up his Arsenal team to play out their way into the quarter-final. It was clear from his tactics that the team went into the match just to dominate possession and frustrate Milan with an aim to counter them on the break. Calhanoglu’s goal came as a shocker for the Gooners and acted as a wakeup call for the home side as Danny Welbeck was tripped in the 18 area and scored the resulting penalty kick. The referee blew the whistle for halftime with the teams at level pegging. The second half was not the same. Granit Xhaka did what he does best in the 71st minute as he scored a long-range effort past Gianluigi Donnarumma who should have done better as the ball slipped under his arms and into the net. At 2-1, it was a mountain to climb for Gattuso’s men and Arsenal rubbed the salt on the wounds when Danny Welbeck scored the third in the 86th minute. That goal confirmed the elimination of the Milan giants who really deserve better. It is a shame that such a match between the two clubs has lost the hype as the teams have dropped a level and are no longer competing at the highest level. Next up is the UEFA Europa League draw. Will Arsenal have what it takes to sweep past everyone that comes their way and qualify for next year’s UEFA Champions League? Only time will tell.