Former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has emerged as the bookmaker’s favourite to fill the vacant Arsenal job.
Following a run of seven games without a win, The Gunners parted company with Unai Emery placing his assistant manager Freddie Ljungberg in interim charge.
Credit: Aleksandr Osipov (Wikipedia Commons) | Emery was sacked following Euro League defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Early reports suggested Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo was in the frame to takeover but Allegri is allegedly now in talks with the Arsenal board.
Editor’s Picks:
- London Bridge shut down “after gunfire”
- The Brothers of Grime
- Greta Thunberg – the 16-year-old activist, now author of the year
- How historically accurate is The Crown?
The Italian has reportedly been living in London and has been learning English in preparation for a move to the Premier League.
In his time with Juventus, Allegri won five Serie A titles and guided the Italian giants to two Champions League finals.
Out of the names mentioned, Allegri for me comes across as by far the best candidate.
— _ (@TheGoonerAFC) November 29, 2019
Emery is gone and to be fair, he should have never been hired in the first place.
Nuno and Allegri need to stay away and any Arsenal fan who wants them, need to be tested immediately!
— TheRealNawaazHussain (@NawaazH) November 29, 2019
Arsenal haven’t lifted a trophy since former boss Arsène Wenger won the FA Cup back in 2017. They last won the league during their unbeaten campaign back in 2003-04 season.
Former midfielders Patrick Vieira, Mikel Arteta and Freddie Ljungberg, the latter who is currently in caretaker charge of the club, are all believed to be in the running.
Image : Dan Taylor | Odds: Ladbrokes.
Mauricio Pochettino, who was recently sacked by London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, is currently on 12/1 with Ladbrokes.
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers, currently listed at 18/1 by Betfair, commented on reports linking him to the job during a press conference.
Brendan Rodgers: “Arsenal is a fantastic club. One of the greats in this country.
“If the people at Arsenal have moved Unai on, I’m sure they have an idea of who they want to bring in.”
— James Benge (@jamesbenge) November 29, 2019
At the press conference ahead of the Foxes’s game against Everton this weekend, Rodgers said: “It’s natural that there are links. If you are doing okay people want to take you away from something you enjoy.”
Leicester will be looking to continue to their unbeaten run in all competitions having already swept Arsenal aside in a two nil victory earlier this month.
Freddie Ljungberg will be hoping to get off to a winning start on the road as Arsenal face Norwich on Sunday.
Words: Dan Taylor | Infographic: Dan Taylor | Featured Image: Singha94