This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
In his column for The Daily Mirror, Stan Collymore has suggested Diego Simeone would be the perfect replacement for Unai Emery at Arsenal.
What did he say?
The Gunners’ miserable start to the campaign – they currently find themselves eighth in the Premier League table and already eight points off the top four – has seen the speculation on Emery’s long-term future at the club to intensity.
Reports in recent weeks have suggested the next run of games could prove to be decisive in whether the Spaniard is sacked or not, and now, Collymore has claimed Atletico Madrid manager Simeone would be exactly what the Gunners need right now.
He said: “The Arsenal board should now be testing Diego Simeone’s ambition and offering him the chance to test himself against Klopp, Mourinho and Pep. Do Arsenal want to keep playing nice continental passing football… I keep recalling Patrice Evra calling them nice boys. Or do you want teams turning up at the Emirates thinking: We’re not going to win here. This is a nasty place to come. Nice boys passing, or be an aggressive front-foot side.
“Forget going to Germany or Italy for a new manager, with Simeone they have a chance by saying, you have plateaued, eight years in Madrid, we will double your wages, we can parachute you in to compete against Mourinho, Klopp, Pep.
“He has the hard working attitude and force of character to change that squad. Emery was never going to be a revolutionary. They should – with permission – send the owners over to meet him and say: We know you don’t really fancy leaving Madrid, but here is a vision for you of the potential of Arsenal Football Club. He would fit what Arsenal need almost perfectly.”
Spirit
Whether Simeone would want to leave Atletico Madrid for a team currently outside even the Europa League places in the Premier League at the moment is certainly up for debate. But there can be no question that were the Argentine to move to the Emirates, it would certainly raise the atmosphere up several notches.
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He would bring an intensity and passion with his side-line antics, and the fact his Atletico side have continued to battle bravely against the riches of Barcelona and Real Madrid in both La Liga and in the Champions League, is a great testament to his managerial abilities. He may not play the pretty football that the Gunners have long been associated with under Arsene Wenger, but he would certainly make them tougher to beat.
Last year, his side conceded just 29 goals in the league – six goals less than the second-best team. He would add a defensive resilience that has been lacking for so long at Arsenal, and could really transform them.
Meanwhile, Arsenal fans want former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri to replace Unai Emery.