Arsenal have just sat up and taken notice of the rumours that manager Arsene Wenger may be approached for the vacant England manager job.
Following an absolutely atrocious performance against international minnows Iceland at the weekend in the last 16, England were dumped out of the competition without so much as a whimper. The 2-1 defeat resulted in the immediate resignation of boss Roy Hodgson.
It took all of about ten seconds for the rumour mill to kick into gear and following the initial assumption that England U21 boss Gareth Southgate would be the most likely candidate, rumours on social media suggested that Arsene Wenger might be a good option for FA chief executive Martin Glenn.
According the Telegraph today, Wenger would not be opposed to the job, though the timing would have to be right. With another season left on his Arsenal contract, the FA would have to wait until next May before the Frenchman is available.
With Southgate reportedly rejecting the offer of the job on an interim basis, the Telegraph reports that the FA would still be willing to wait for Wenger.
This development has apparently spooked the Arsenal board of directors as now, according to the Mail, they are hurriedly planning contract extension talks with their long serving manager in a bid to keep the FA at bay.
Assuming Arsenal manage to fashion a title challenging season next term, any contract extension talks might go far better than if Arsenal continue with the perennial spring time slump. This past season has seen fans becoming increasingly vocal about their displeasure of Wenger’s management of their beloved club.
So much so that Arsenal fans themselves have taken to championing the FA’s approach for Wenger.
https://twitter.com/_Always_Arsenal/status/748241566913937409
Wenger would be perfect for England manager – coming 4th would be deemed a massive improvement.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 29, 2016
Should Arsenal fail to impress again next season, the England job might well be a welcome safe haven for Wenger.
Much now depends on the potential candidates that become available and interested in the England role in the coming months. With Arsene Wenger apparently interested, given the right circumstances, it is now up to Arsenal to deliver that elusive title that Wenger has been dreaming of for 12 years.
Only this, it now seems, will keep the Frenchman at the Emirates and away from those neighbouring offices in Wembley.
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