Infamous view: Why this former Liverpool manager will be a good choice to replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal
Arsenal may have managed to make it through to the last eight of the UEFA Europa League, but the departure of manager Arsene Wenger at the end of the season seems inevitable.
The Frenchman has been under intense pressure recently after a run of poor results, and while the North Londoners have bounced back on the pitch with improved displays in the past couple of weeks, Wenger’s position continues to be under threat with a place in the top four of the Premier League looking like a very distant possibility.
And one name that has been linked heavily with replacing the Frenchman at the Emirates and seems to be gaining a lot of weight of late is that of Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.
The former Liverpool boss has had a sensational spell in Scotland since taking over the reins at the Parkhead in 2016 and has been tipped as the right successor to Wenger’s throne by a number of pundits, including former Arsenal superstar Paul Merson.
While the idea hasn’t been met with all that fervour and excitement by the club’s fanbase, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the plan to replace Wenger with Rodgers has some degree of merit to it.
Currently in charge of Celtic, and having formerly managed Liverpool, Rodgers boasts of an impressive CV and has shown that he has the mettle to managing and leading huge clubs and can deal with the expectations and the pressure that comes along with that.
Not many would’ve forgotten how close Rodgers came to leading Liverpool to their first Premier League title since 1989/90 when his side finished just two points shy of eventual champions Manchester City. Throughout the season, Liverpool played some eye-catching football filled with attacking verve and vigour – something that the Arsenal fans can attest to thanks to their team’s 5-1 drubbing at Anfield.
The way Rodgers managed to extract the best out of the players like the mercurial Luis Suarez, the injury-prone Daniel Sturridge, an ageing Steven Gerrard and a highly inconsistent Raheem Sterling in that campaign stands as a testament of his managerial pedigree.
Liverpool scored over 100 league goals during the 2013/14 campaign – their best ever tally in a Premier League season. And if Rodgers were to be given a group of attacking players as talented and gifted as currently at Arsenal’s disposal, there’s no saying he wouldn’t be able to produce something similar.
Under him, Celtic may not have been able to achieve a lot of progress at the European stages, but it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Rodgers has taken the Hoops to a whole new level when it comes to the domestic competitions.
Many are soon to dismiss his exploits, stating it came in Scottish football, but to finish an entire season unbeaten, on the way to winning three trophies as Rodgers’ team did in the 2016/17 campaign takes something special. And the 45-year old looks well on his way to lead the Bhoys to a consecutive domestic treble, highlighting how he has helped widen the gulf between his team and the rest in Scotland.
There remain a few flaws in his managerial style – much like Wenger, his sides too, have often been found out defensively. The lack of experience at the European level, where Arsenal aim to be successful is something that will hinder his chances as well. But, it is only fair to say that wherever Rodgers has managed till date, be it Swansea City, Liverpool or Celtic, he has managed to improve the club.
Surely, it is too early in the game to predict what will happen at the end of the season. For all we know, Wenger could still remain in charge of the club come next season. However, if the job does become vacant, it would be unwise of Arsenal to not consider Rodgers as a potential candidate to take over from the Frenchman and lead them into a new era.
Arsenal
Arsenal Face Brighton Test as Gunners Begin Title Pursuit Despite Ruiz’s Late Managerial Appointment Creating Tactical Uncertainty
Arsenal commence their 2026-27 Women’s Super League championship campaign at Broadfield Stadium confronting Brighton’s late managerial transition, establishing opening fixture complexity transcending merely competitive opponent engagement.
Renée Slegers’ settled pre-season preparation combined with her comprehensive summer recruitment establishes substantial tactical foundation supporting Arsenal’s championship pursuit, yet Arturo Ruiz’s Brighton appointment only days before the opener establishes genuine tactical uncertainty undermining predictive fixture assessment.
Match Information and How to Watch
Brighton vs Arsenal kicks off Sunday 6 September 2026 at 12:00pm BST from Broadfield Stadium. Sky Sports provides UK broadcast coverage with international viewers accessing the match through Barclays Women’s Super League YouTube channel.
Slegers’ settled preparation combined with Arsenal’s strengthened squad suggests comprehensive championship readiness, whilst Brighton’s managerial transition establishes unpredictability supporting their defensive resilience potential.
Arsenal’s Championship Squad Depth Addresses Tactical Complexity
Slegers’ described squad as “strongest” she has directed establishes credible championship foundation transcending merely competitive adequacy. Georgia Stanway, Ona Batlle and Misa Rodríguez amongst Arsenal’s summer arrivals combined with existing institutional talent establishes attacking depth supporting varied tactical approaches addressing Brighton’s potential defensive resilience.
That depth combined with their previous Brighton fixture frustration suggests Arsenal recognise need for sustained patient attacking construction transcending pure dominance expectations.
Predicted Arsenal lineup: Rodríguez; Fox, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, Batlle; Stanway, Little; Smith, Caldentey, Foord; Russo.
Wälti’s Arsenal Knowledge Provides Brighton Transitional Stability
Wälti’s seven-year Arsenal tenure combined with her Brighton appointment establishes meaningful institutional knowledge advantage supporting Ruiz’s implementation requirements. Her midfield presence alongside Emilie Joramo establishes experienced transitional partnership potentially disrupting Arsenal’s familiar midfield control patterns, validating Brighton’s unpredictability potential despite their managerial disruption.
Predicted Brighton lineup: Nnadozie; Auée, Minami, George, Vanegas; Wälti, Joramo; Seike, Kirby, Čanković; Haley.
Championship Establishment Requires Sustained Patient Offensive Construction
This fixture feels strategically important for Arsenal’s championship establishment. Rather than pursuing comfortable opening victory assumptions, Slegers acknowledges Brighton’s “stubborn” defensive resilience and Wälti’s quality threat suggesting appropriate championship mentality. That recognition combined with Arsenal’s comprehensive squad depth supports their eventual victory.
Brighton’s tactical uncertainty combined with their determined defensive tradition creates genuine fixture complexity. Arsenal’s attacking variety through Smith, Foord and Caldentey should overcome Brighton’s resistance, though patience will prove essential against Ruiz’s transitional defensive structure.
Prediction: Brighton 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal
Emily Fox Commits Arsenal to Championship Treble Pursuit as USWNT Defender Targets Every Available Trophy Following Consecutive PFA Recognition
Emily Fox has articulated explicit championship ambition for Arsenal, establishing the club’s comprehensive trophy pursuit philosophy requiring unwavering commitment across all available competitions.
The United States Women’s National Team defender’s unequivocal assertion that elite institutions “have to go for all of them” combined with her consecutive PFA Team of the Year recognition establishes credible foundation supporting genuine championship aspirations rather than merely aspirational rhetoric.
Arsenal’s narrow previous season defeat through draw accumulation combined with their Charlton Athletic 5-1 demolition establishes encouraging competitive foundation suggesting tactical sharpness supporting their championship objectives.
Fox’s immediate second-half impact despite not starting validates her elite status transcending purely starting lineup consideration, suggesting her availability provides meaningful tactical flexibility supporting Arsenal’s demanding fixture schedule throughout their multi-competition campaign.
Elite One-Versus-One Defending Provides Championship Foundation
Fox’s characterisation as elite one-versus-one defender combined with her ability to “surge relentlessly down the right flank” establishes complete attacking and defensive profile meriting championship-level confidence.
Her PFA recognition reflecting her dual-faceted influence across both ends of the pitch validates her significance extending beyond purely defensive responsibility, indicating genuine elite performer capable of meaningful attacking contribution supporting Arsenal’s creative requirements.
That comprehensive capability combined with her demonstrated consistency establishes credible foundation supporting Arsenal’s multi-trophy pursuit.
Draw Accumulation Represents Championship Addressable Challenge
Arsenal’s previous season single loss contrasted against their six-draw accumulation establishes quantifiable competitive adjustment requirement rather than fundamental capability deficiency. That marginal defeat suggested by draw patterns rather than defensive collapses indicates realistic trophy pursuit achievability through continued tactical consistency and draw-conversion improvement rather than requiring wholesale squad reconstruction.
This statement feels strategically important for Arsenal’s competitive trajectory. Rather than pursuing conservative single-trophy focus, Fox and Arsenal establish ambitious championship mentality demanding elite performance consistency across all available competitions. Her championship commitment combined with her demonstrated elite capability positions Arsenal favorably for sustained trophy pursuit throughout their anticipated season.
Arsenal
New UEFA Regulation Blocks Arsenal From Away Fixture Against Slavia Prague as Champions League Draw Implements Consecutive Opponent Restriction
Arsenal have discovered their comprehensive Champions League group phase opponents following yesterday’s draw, establishing their competitive schedule whilst navigating newly implemented UEFA regulation preventing consecutive away fixtures against identical opposition.
The regulation denying Arsenal’s away travel to Prague combined with Liverpool’s blocked Anfield Real Madrid fixture establishes systematic competition balance philosophy limiting repetitive home-venue matchups across three consecutive seasons, suggesting deliberate competition structure enhancement prioritising varied competitive experience.
Arsenal’s previous season 3-0 Prague demolition combined with their current away-fixture prevention establishes genuine competitive advantage preservation rather than purely administrative regulation, validating UEFA’s systematic approach toward ensuring fresh competitive challenge distribution.
That regulatory framework combined with Arsenal’s established grouping suggests meaningful competitive foundation supporting their European championship aspirations following their previous season Budapest final disappointment.
Regulation Implementation Prevents Competitive Staleness
The regulation prohibiting three-consecutive-season identical home-venue fixtures between same opposition establishes competition diversity philosophy suggesting UEFA recognises value in fresh tactical challenges across multiple seasons. That systematic approach spanning multiple elite clubs including Liverpool alongside Arsenal suggests comprehensive competition restructuring philosophy rather than arbitrarily targeting individual institutions, indicating genuine competition-wide implementation rather than selective application.
That regulation combined with Arsenal’s established grouping establishes meaningful competitive foundation supporting sustained elite challenge throughout their group phase campaign.
Arsenal’s Comprehensive Grouping Establishes Elite Championship Foundation
Arsenal’s pairing with Real Madrid home fixture combined with Bayern Munich away establishment alongside their additional elite opposition encounters (Dortmund, Lille, Napoli, Betis) establishes genuinely demanding group phase schedule requiring sustained elite performance consistency. That competitive balance combining established elite opponents (Real Madrid, Bayern) alongside ascending threats (Lille, Dortmund) suggests meaningful championship-level testing supporting their European ambitions.
This regulation feels strategically important for Arsenal’s European trajectory. Rather than viewing the Prague away-fixture prevention as disadvantageous, their comprehensive grouping combined with their Real Madrid home advantage establishes meaningful foundation supporting their championship defence objectives.
Their Budapest final disappointment combined with this season’s elevated competitive scheduling suggests genuine opportunity for meaningful European progression throughout their demanding group phase campaign.
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