Unai Emery and his coaching staff were dismissed on Thursday morning but talk regarding the Spaniard’s potential successor was already underway long before the announcement had even been made. One of the names linked with the Arsenal hot-seat is that of Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo and reports coming out of France have suggested he is the clubs ‘priority’ target.
Nuno Espirito Santo est bien la priorité d’#Arsenal pour remplacer Emery. Les discussions ont d’ores et déjà commencé avec son entourage. Le coach portugais est très intéressé. En cas d’accord Arsenal devra indemniser les Wolves.
— Mohamed Bouhafsi (@mohamedbouhafsi) November 29, 2019
Well known French journalist, Mohamed Bouhafsi, has reported via Twitter that talks between the club and the Portuguese manager have ‘already begun’ via his representatives. Santo enjoys a close relationship with super-agent Jorge Mendes and there are suspicions the information has come from somebody within his organisation.
The 45-year-old is said to be ‘very interested’ in the position, but in order for Arsenal to get their man they would be ordered to pay compensation to the West-Midlands club and that could be a potential stumbling point in negotiations.
Is Nuno the right man to replace Emery?
Yes
No
TIF Tactics – The right fit?
Nuno Espirito Santo has done a magnificent job at Molineux guiding the club to promotion up into the Premier League, followed by a 7th place finish in their first season back and now his side occupy 5th, having qualified for the Europa League knockout stages.
He’s a manager with a clear philosophy and playing system which is something that Arsenal under Emery have lacked. However, given the size of the task in North London and the increased expectation he will be expected to contend with on a daily basis there are those who would feel underwhelmed by the appointment of somebody like Nuno.
The reality however, is that Arsenal as a football club don’t necessarily have the same pulling power they could once boast.