Rumors are Alexis and Ozil gone in the summer because of AW's future. Today on twitter ther was someone who floated that the Juve coach was being looked at as AW's replacement. I am in camp that all talks should be with Diego Simeone as the replacement then everybody else. Pay da man his monies

Its not surprising. The club is going to lose a lot of the locker room when Wenger leaves.

You hate to see top players leave but both are 28 and we aren't competitive enough right now. I honestly think that won't change under Wenger. If the board is insistent on not spending to keep up with the bigger clubs then we need a manager that can beat them with tactics and effort. Wenger is not the guy to do that. Alexis could fit into a squad like that because he is 100% effort all of the time but I question whether he would be good for the locker room when things aren't going right. He seems to pout alot and I don't see that being a positive for the team. Ozil, while very good, can't seem to keep it up for more than 60 min and tends to crater in the last half of the season. There is rumor that is why Madrid was willing to sell. If you bring in a manager that also evaluates talent well (and quicker than AW) then I think you could quickly put together a competitive club with our current roster plus players you buy with the Alexis/Ozil funds.

Allegri (Juventus) has been rumored to us for a couple months now. He is likely one of the better options that is attainable. He fits the culture and has the tactical abilities that AW lacks. He also is incredibly flexible in that he can and has run many formations. That likely lends itself to a smooth transition.

I've not seen Simeone rumored and don't think we will. He signed a new contract last summer and I think the buyout to get him will be too great.

Others I have seen rumored...

Sampaoli - Currently has Sevilla in 3rd place. Excellent tactician. May not be best cultural fit. Runs a 3-4-1-2 or 3-4-3. Either could be an interesting change of pace but will require some roster adjustments. As former Chile coach, he likely convinces Alexis to stay. Ozil likely doesn't fit his style (preaches hardcore D with wide open fast attack). Has 1 yr left on his contract at Sevilla but buyout is very low and contract extension talks have stalled.
Jardim - Currently has Monaco in 1st place. Excellent tactician and would be a good cultural fit. Prefers a 4-3-3 with a flat 3 mid (1 DM and 2 CM) which should fit our current roster well and could quickly be competitve with the right additions.
Tuchel - Had an excellent 1st season at Dortmund and has tailed off since. Not sure he would be a good option right now.
Howe - Has done a good job at Bournmouth but I think he is too young and too inexperienced to take over at Arsenal.
Hasenhuttl - Has done an excellent job with Leipzig. Is the definition of the type of coach we should be looking for (tactics mixed with motivation) but you have to wonder if this is a Leicester-esque flash in the pan season.

Question for y'all. Are y'all going to be ok with a new manager that may not play the Arsenal style that the players and fans are accustomed to.

If you aren't winning what does style of play matter? Some may be upset but if a new manager starts winning the big games I think everyone will get on board.

Yep. Granted it helps that I saw Graham as the manager. Would love his defense back. 1-nil to the Arsenal. That's why they were so good in the late 90's and early 2000's. Most of the defensive core of Adams, Bould, Dixon, Winterburn, Seaman were there through the early stages. Added Campbell, Cole, Toure. Those guys with the likes of Henry, Bergkamp, Vieira, Pires, Ljungberg, Wright, Anelka, and Wiltord up top made for a deadly combination.

I'd love to get Simeone or Sampaoli. Those are probably my top two.

My realistic shortlist right now is...

Sampaoli - Would bring us the tactics and defense we need. Would require more radical changes to the roster but I think he could be great for us.
Allegri - Like his flexibility. Like that he caters his formation to the personnel, situations, etc... Not quite as D focused as others but much more than Wenger
Jardim - He is a hot name right now and doing exceptionally well in France with a roster that shouldn't be in 1st place. Probably the least D focused of the group but could likely hit the ground running quite easily with our current roster.

Others...

Simeone - He is interesting but I don't see us being able to get him right now or see him wanting to leave Spain.
Koeman - He interests me as well but he just arrived at Everton after only 1 yr at Southampton and if rumors are to be believed. he has his eyes on Barca. He may not get it now but I would hate to hire him only to have him jump ship in a couple years if/when Barca becomes available again.
Rest of the rumored field - All either too inexperienced or not impressive enough for my liking.

Luis Enrique stepping down at Barca. Rumors swirling that Sampaoli, Wenger, Koeman and Allegri may be the top candidates.

Reading up on Enrique, I can't help but wonder if he would be a good candidate to replace AW? Maybe not the best candidate but he could be a good one.

No Ozil. Alexis on the bench. Would rather Lucas start over Iwobi based on form

Well I guess the line up is pretty indicitive of the situation with players.

Damn. Ugly goal.

Damn. Beautiful goal.

Do yall know what a defense is?

Complete and utter ****. Yeah go ahead and keep Alexis and Lucas on the bench. Son of a ****.

Disappointing half. Down two goals with no promise shown offensively.

WengerIN or WengerOUT?

Why in the world would we not start Alexis?

gougler08 said:

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Why in the world would we not start Alexis?

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Must be something to do with the contract dispute.

Makes no sense. If your trying to teach him a lesson about something, there is no point because he is gone in the summer

gougler08 said:

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Why in the world would we not start Alexis?

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He is just preparing fans for life without him for next season.

Nice finish Welbeck.

What a finish by Welbz..

Love Bellerin but his last touch into the box is usually lacking.

No yellow for Can? **** off ref

Does Xhaka ever go a game without getting carded?

Ref blows it not sending Can off.

Overact to solicit sympathy from ref in order to avoid second yellow. Well done Can.

Painful defeat!

Hot garbage.

Kroenke is a cancer that poisons everything his family touches. Prepare yourselves for a loooooong period of irrelevance.

We are such ass

Bunch of journos started running with a rumor late yesterday that Allegri has agreed to join us next season. Blowing up this morning.

Would be a great hire. Wenger' contract offer hasn't been rescinded however, and he could be here 2 more years.