Rachael Warham
I have been reliably informed by sources close to me, that very recently, Roberto Mancini once again reiterated his desire to become the next Gunners Boss.
For those of you whose memory can stretch back as far as November last year (mine can't), you may recall the Italian informing a reporter that;" I would have loved to have managed Arsenal, a club with a special charm. But there is still time.”
Whilst fans of the North London side everywhere would be in agreement that Arsenal is indeed a club with a "special charm," the very idea that this could be the man to replace Wenger is, well, headache inducing.
When I first heard the remarks of the former Manchester City manager, I admit that I did scoff snootily at the idea that someone who, apparently, takes such delight at drilling organization into the mindset of every player under his management could possibly be a fit for Arsenal. The headache only intensifies when you think of how mismatched the two are, idealistically, realistically, chemically; basically in every "ically" way imaginable.
Under Wenger we have become accustomed to the "gung-ho" approach. This tactic requires football to flow from all channels, (easy on the eye viewing), while at the same time abandoning all defensive duties (bottom clenching viewing). Personally speaking, this approach bored me about seven years ago and is well past its sell by date. Arsenal have become football's version of ground-hog day, the only difference being that Bill Murray learnt from his mistakes.
I want something different, so magnificently different and I believe Mancini is so different from what we're accustomed to that he would be perfect for us. I would not only welcome him with open arms but happily lick clean his toilet seat for the next year if it meant he would become Arsenal's next manager. (Er… we print what is submitted and you read that correctly – Ed)
"I like 1-0 wins... I prefer we are boring for two or three matches and we win 1-0. If you watch teams that won titles, they conceded very few goals.”
Statements like this from Mancini are like music to my ears. There can be no better statement that so perfectly illustrates his management style or his will to win. To all the footballing purists out there; and I include Wenger amongst them, he is basically sticking two fingers up at them as his will to win outweighs his need for fantasy football. Nobody remembers runners-up.
I want him and everything he brings with him; I want his organisation, I want to watch a game in which I see more than one tactic, I want 1-0 wins, I want defenders to defend, I want direct football, and I want, I want, I want a defensive midfielder. Mancini wants the Arsenal job - I say give it to him and he will bring trophies to the Emirates.
Favorably, the current Inter Milan manager has shown himself to be an expert in the transfer market, and this was no more true than during his time at Manchester City. Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Aleksandar Kolarov were just a few of Mancini's signings, and of course, how could we forget Samir Nasri. All of these players were, and continue, to be major stars of the Premiership. This is why we needn't worry about losing Wenger's wheeling and dealing capabilities. Mancini has proven himself in this field.
Then there is the question over whether the ex-City manager could deliver silverware in the red and white of Arsenal. So, ok, we're FA Cup winners, but I am talking about the Premiership. It's been a scandal that we have gone as many years as we have without winning a single title and I, for one, would question whether Wenger even remembers how to go about winning league championships. During the Italian’s first spell at Inter Milan he won three consecutive titles and broke a number of records. He continued this rich vein of success after moving to Manchester City which proves he has what it takes to be successful domestically.
So as I glance hopefully at the latest Sky Sports News Update watching hours of nonsense not concerning Arsenal, I find myself in a realisation that this may only be a pipe dream. I'll probably require the use of a zimmerframe before Wenger decides he's had enough and even then he'll have it written in stone that any successor must only adhere to the Arsene Wenger book of tactics or, as he might call it, "Gung-Ho: The Only Way I Know". But I am always an optimist and wait with bated breath for my wish to be granted.
