Arsenal aim for overlord Overmars
Board split over new deal for Wenger Dressing room like ‘morgue’ after defeat
ARSENAL are pressing ahead with plans to appoint their first-ever director of football, with former player Marc Overmars among the early contenders. It’s a move that is unlikely to be well received by under fire boss Arsene Wenger but Arsenal chiefs want someone to be in charge of transfers as well as to oversee the entire footballing ethos. Wenger has become the single most important figure at the club during his 21-year reign, with the final say on transfers and team matters. Arsenal have started making early overtures to candidates and it is understood that Overmars, director of football at Ajax, is someone who interests them. The Dutchman, 44, spent three years at Arsenal, winning the Double under Wenger in 1997-98. Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc is another candidate known to have impressed Arsenal.
ARSENE WENGER’S future has caused a split in the Arsenal board, with the club now unlikely to reveal whether their manager will stay or go before the end of the season.
Even after Monday’s humiliating 3-0 defeat at Crystal Palace — which left the dressing room in a ‘morgue-like’ state, according to a source — Wenger has no intention of quitting Arsenal.
However, there are now members of the Gunners top brass who want the Frenchman out at the end of the season, which leaves the club at a crossroads going into the final weeks of Wenger’s current deal.
Arsenal are adamant the decision on whether Wenger signs a new two-year deal will be a mutual one, despite the perception that the 67-year-old will be allowed to decide his own destiny.
Arsenal supporters protested against Wenger in large numbers at Palace in what appeared to be a turning point. Several players were also targeted, notably out-of-form right back Hector Bellerin, who was verbally abused by fans after the final whistle.
Chief executive Ivan Gazidis cut a forlorn figure at Selhurst Park as he watched his team slump to their fifth defeat in eight League matches.
Ultimately, majority shareholder Stan Kroenke — who is being kept updated on growing tensions among the fans — will have the biggest say in Wenger’s future. And the US businessman is still behind the manager, which points to him extending his stay in north London into a 22nd season.
There is a drive from Gazidis, however, to restructure the club’s coaching set-up this summer, even if Wenger stays. There will also be more than £ 100million made available to improve the squad.
That will be supplemented by money from a number of player sales, with Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kie ran Gibbs, Lucas Perez, Francis Coquelin and Olivier Giroud all facing uncertainty over their Arsenal futures.
The appointment of a director of football and a new academy chief, plus a shake-up of the first-team coaching set- up, are also on the agenda.
Arsenal have made moves to hire their first director of football, and are looking at European candidates for the role. Borussia Dortmund’s Michael Zorc and Ajax’s Marc Overmars — a winger in the club’s 1997- 98 Doublewinning team — are among those who interest Arsenal.
It remains to be seen how accommodating Wenger will be to a director of football, with any appointment appearing to weaken the manager’s overwhelming control at the club.
Similarly, restructuring the first-team coaching set-up will put a number of Wenger’s loyal aides at risk and is sure to create tension.
Goalkeeping coach Gerry Peyton and fitness coach Tony Colbert could be under threat. The pair are long- serving staff from Wenger’ s inner circle.
The scouting department will also come under scrutiny.
There are questions over the role of chief scout Steve Rowley, with former Arsenal midfielder and French scout Gilles Grimandi playing an increasingly influential role within the department.
Arsenal hope the planned restructuring will reinvigorate a football operation that has stagnated, though Wenger caused consternation behind the scenes last week by appearing to distance himself from the pending changes.
Meanwhile, a number of Arsenal players were given three days off after the defeat at Palace, and their next match is not until Monday, when they travel to struggling Middlesbrough.
The squad will have a debrief on the Palace meltdown when they return to training later this week. There was little in the way of an inquest after the game, with the dressing room described as ‘silent’ in the immediate aftermath.