Arsenal rumors: 5 managers who may replace Arsene Wenger

Diego Simeone

Let’s get the obvious reservations out of the way first: Simeone doesn’t speak English, and that’s a big problem when you’re the sort of coach who spends most of the match standing on the touch-line barking instructions at your players.

But it’s also an obstacle that is easily surmounted. Incidentally, if you need precedent for an Argentine coach who spent most of his playing career in Spain making his mark at a club in the Premier League, then look no further than Arsenal’s North London rivals.

Besides, Arsenal are likely to be more forgiving of imperfect communication skills when presented with the opportunity to hire arguably the world’s best coach. In case you missed it, Simeone has taken his dogged Atletico side to two Champions League finals in three years, coming agonizingly close to lifting the trophy on both occasions.

It would represent a significant departure from the type of football typically practised by Wenger. The Frenchman rarely strays from all-out attacking football, even when faced with opponents who possess greater offensive prowess, while Simeone is more than happy to win a game with a scrappy goal from a set piece (and frequently does).

Don’t forget: well-orchestrated counter-attacking can be beautiful too, and Arsenal fans, starved of success for so long, probably aren’t going to be too picky about how they win. The fact is Simeone is a proven winner, and will probably be on the look out for a new challenge if Atletico sell his star players yet again.