A huge 24 hours for the Premier League. It was officially announced yesterday that Mikel Arteta would become the new Arsenal Manager and it has also just been announced that, three time Champions League winner, Carlo Ancelotti has become the new Everton manager. Where to start?
When Unai Emery got the sack, a big list of candidates to replace him began to surface, with former player, Freddie Ljungberg taking over as interim manager during the hunt for a new long term appointment was made. In this time, Ljungberg, lost two, drew two and won just one of his games in charge. He was previously a candidate to become manager on a permanent basis but his results whilst in charge kind of put him to one side.
Other options for manager were, Patrick Viera, former Arsenal player with some managerial experience in the MLS and Ligue 1, Carlo Ancelotti, now Everton manager was also linked, Massimiliano Allegri, former Juventus manager who is currently a free agent, Mauricio Pochetino, former Spurs manager and Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, Mikel Arteta.
The club made it fairly clear from the start that Arteta was to be their main target. He knows the club well having been at the club in his playing career, he’s been working with arguably the best manager in the world for three years and he has been praised by former manager Arsene Wenger as always had the ability to be a top manager and has shown that over the years he worked with him.
Despite this being Arteta’s first permanent managers role, it is being seen as a strong appointment by Arsenal, he has been watching and working with Guardiola for three years now, winning two Premier Leagues with City and therefore has the potential to be something special.
He has a big task ahead of him however, with Arsenal sitting tenth in the table just before Christmas, the players have been slacking in recent games but we’d like to think that they will want to impress their new manager. One thing I would say is, Arsenal need to give Arteta time, I believe they need to give him at least two years to get used to managing Arsenal, it’s a big job and it is ultimately his first job.
This could also be a turning point for out-of-favour midfielder Mesut Ozil. Ozil has been used as a scapegoat at Arsenal for the last couple seasons given the price the club signed him for and his poor form, we know he is a world class player but only when he wants to be and it’s clear that over the last couple years he hasn’t been truly committed to Arsenal Football Club. Having played with Arteta as a player, perhaps this will allow the new manager to get the best out of his former teammate and show him how good he can be with a bit of confidence and backing from the manger.
The January transfer window is approaching an I’m sure Arteta will make a few changes, the first we think of is most likely, getting rid of Granit Xhaka who has fallen out with the Arsenal fans. Arsenal do still need a new defender or two to try and strengthen their back line as well as perhaps another midfielder, but I’m sure these are things Arteta is already thinking about. Guardiola has also come out and said that he is very disappointed that Arteta is leaving him but backs him to do well and become a great manager.
In his first press conference, yesterday afternoon, Arteta vowed to change the energy at the club and says his new club need to make an immediate impact if they want to finish this season strong. Arteta also said that he would bring a new style to the club, this is something that should excite Arsenal fans. He takes over as manager on Sunday after Saturday’s game against Everton, which Ljungberg will manage.
Other breaking news has just come out today that three-time Champions League winner, Carlo Ancelotti has just become the new Everton manager. This is a huge appointment for the Toffees who are struggling in the league this year, sitting sixteenth in the table.
Everton decided to sack manager Marco Silva at the start of the month and from the get go, made it clear they would target a big name to replace him. During their time searching for a new manager, former player, Duncan Ferguson took charge as interim manager. In that time he has beaten Chelsea, got a draw against Manchester United and got knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Leicester on penalties, which isn’t too bad but Everton we’re searching for a manger with a reputation, someone like, Carlo Ancelotti.
Ancelotti has been out of work for just over a week, after he was sacked by Napoli after their poor start to the Serie A season. Ancelotti has managed some of the biggest clubs in the world, including, AC Milan, PSG, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Bayern Munich. He’s a manager with a terrific CV. He has experience in the Premier League after his two year run as Chelsea manager, in which he won the Premier League and the FA Cup.
Everton fans will be licking their lips at tho appointment as he has the potential to really turn the team around and get them out of the slump they are currently experiencing. It’s difficult to say what Ancelotti’s aims will be for this season given where they currently sit in the table but I’m sure a top ten finish would suffice the owners of the club but given that he is given time and money to really work with the club then perhaps the club could be pushing for at least a top six finish in the near future.
These two appointments are huge for both clubs concerned and I know I speak for fans of Arsenal, Everton and generally football when I say, I’m excited to see what they do at their new clubs. I’d like to Arteta completely change Arsenal’s vision and be the next Pep Guardiola in his first managerial position and I’d also like to see Ancelotti get the best out of his players and get Everton back to a position which shows their worth.
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