Is Van Gaal Arsenal’s Plan B if Wenger moves upstairs?
Louis van Gaal seems to be the hottest property in football right now. Tottenham, Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid and now Arsenal have all been linked with the Dutchman this season. Reports claim that he knocked back Daniel Levy and Tottenham earlier in the season in the hope of landing bigger fish.
News emanating from North London claim that Arsenal have pencilled down his name if Arsene Wenger decides to end his 18-year reign at the end of the season. The board of directors at Arsenal stay fiercely loyal to Wenger and would rather have him stay, but they realize that contingency plans have to be made. The Frenchman’s contract runs out in the summer and is yet to commit to a new two-year extension or perhaps he decides it is time to take his place on the board and leave the coaching to someone else.
Arsenal don’t want to fall into the kind of situation Man United found themselves in this season by appointing the wrong man. Arsene Wenger has been linked with a return to French Monaco, a team he managed between 1988 and 1994 wants to see how the season ends before making a decision about his future. It is widely believed that the FA cup final would be the defining moment, as well as qualification for the UEFA Champions League. The latter seems to be secured as Everton faltered against Southampton on Saturday. The former is not as straightforward as we all remember that ill-fated Carling Cup final of 2011.
In the van Gaal camp, they are giving nothing away as reports claim that the 62-year old Dutchman is keeping his options open. Although common sense points van Gaal the United way, given the chance to work with Robin van Persie, his captain in the Dutch National Team, common sense rarely prevails in football. One thing that seems sure however, is that the Dutchman’s next job will be in England. Van Gaal is a proven winner with many trophies to prove it from his time at Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Some call him brilliant, some say he is arrogant, while others call him crazy. Whatever he is, the Premier League would receive him with open arms as it already has all sorts, why not one more?
