USA top Job?
World Cup Hangover
On the back of the recent “boring” international break, there were so many different implications for lots of the Arsenal players and team.
Can Alexis Sanchez ever forgive Columbian international goal keeper David Ospina for trying to save the Peru indirect free kick?
Will Moh Elneny ever get over his hangover after helping Egypt reach the world cup for the first time in decades?
How will Gareth Southgate use Jack Wilshere for the remainder of the season, following a clear lack of creativity from the England team?
Moh Celebratng
Finally and clearly of bigger importance is the World Cup knock out of USA from qualification, following an embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Trinidad and Tobago. At first you might ask why does it matter to Arsenal fans, well times are a changing for the USA, overhaul is needed and there are calls for change from top to bottom, with head coach Bruce Arena already resigning.
In U.S Soccer all roads lead to President Sunil Gulati, as do the fingers of blame point sadly. Gulati has been President since 2006 and today said he doesn’t plan to stand down so he will have to be beaten come the next election.
Unlikely to hang on
Just as it happens the next election is in February, there is a strong possibly Arsenal chief Ivan Gazidis could be the guy people want to succeed Gulati. With Gulati admitting he himself has already reached out to people for endorsements, it could be a tightly run thing. Other candidates are Steve Gans and Paul Lapointe who although have U.S based experience do not have the high profile of “Mr Catalyst for change” Gazidis or even Gulati.
Ivan Gazidis has been strongly linked with a role in America for some time and as tension between he and Arsene Wenger seems to increase by the day if reports are to be believed, this could be the perfect time for him to get out and jump into a well-respected role.
With yet more reports coming out this week that Marc Overmars is set to join Arsenal next season, you could see Overmars replace Ivan Gazidis and Gazidis move back to USA.
Overmars in but for which job
Marc Overmars’ role is more likely to be to replace the outgoing sporting director Dick Law, although it’s clear Overmars will want at least the same amount of responsibility at Arsenal as he does at Ajax currently. I don’t think you need to be a genius to point out the current role of sporting director doesn’t hold much weight or sway in things at Arsenal, so does Overmars have his eyes on a better role?
Would Overmars poach Ajax stars like Dolberg
Finally with Marc Overmars coming in we could see him bring in many of the things that brought Ajax success, meaning our youth prospects and Academy will be used better, scouting will be used more effectively and we may even see such players as Kasper Dolberg, Hakim Ziyech and Matthijs De Liigt joining Arsenal.
I got into football as a kid watching Italian football in the afternoons and ever since I’ve been hooked on tactics and the continental side of the game. I’ve written about Italian football in the past among other things but now it’s time to write about, the embodiment of how I see the beautiful game, Arsenal. Hopefully writing things and opinions about the game you haven’t seen before, I like a bit of a joke too.
Change all you want.
Gazidis out and Overmars in.
It makes absolutely no difference at all when you have Wenger there – we need a fresh, young approach not some old fart doing exactly the same things every year and wondering why Arsenal are just complete crap.
So I don’t care about Overmars – I don’t want him because he will be yet another pathetic yes man to the dictator that is Arsene Wenger….
Thank you James for that insight into the politics of USA soccer. I just wish there was some way of getting rid of Kroenke. I think Arsene will be with us for as long as Kroenke wants him. If he was the manager of Man City, Man Utd. or Chelsea over the last 12 years, he would have been sacked long ago.