JOACHIM LOW remains Arsenal’s preferred choice to take over from Arsene Wenger.
And it could happen this summer.
Given the Gunners’ dramatic slump in form, and Wenger’s failure to arrest the slide, the board could call time on the Frenchman or he might fall on his sword.
A run of four successive defeats in all competitions means it seems that only a Europa League triumph, thus gaining to access to the Champions League, can save Wenger.
It’s certainly vital that he wins the last-16 showdown with AC Milan, the first leg of which is in the San Siro on Thursday.
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Wenger’s contract actually expires in June 2019 but the 68-year-old is fast losing support within the Arsenal hierarchy.
Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim and Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers are also in the running to succeed him. But Low remains the top choice.
Low, 58, ten years younger than Wenger, is officially tied to the German Federation until the end of Euro 2020.
But ESPN FC believe he could be tempted to take on the challenge of Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho and maybe Antonio Conte in the Premier League.
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First up he’ll definitely defend the World Cup with Germany in Russia this summer but could then be open to an offer.
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has overseen several new appointments in recent months – Sven Mislintat from Borussia Dortmund as head of recruitment and former Barcelona director of football Raul Sanllehi as head of football relations.
Huss Fahmy arrived as contract negotiator from a previous role with cycling’s Team Sky.
But it seems the squad have grown frustrated by the lack of change and evolution in Wenger’s department.
A source close to one senior player told ESPN FC: “A lot of the players don’t want Wenger. They are not happy with his tactics and the training.
“The players don’t want any particular manager to come in – some speak about Thierry Henry, Carlo Ancelotti and even Rafa Benitez – but they are really frustrated.
“A lot of them are also unhappy about the sale of Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United.
“Alexis could be difficult at times, but the players think it sent the wrong message to sell him to a rival.”