Getting ready for the boot?
After almost two decades in which Chelsea and Arsenal have embodied opposing operational models - managerial instability v continuity, extravagance v parsimony, substance v style and, frankly, regular silverware v the promise of glories yet to come – it is odd to relate that London’s two richest clubs are approaching the new season in similar positions.
Before this morning’s Community Shield both clubs found themselves in a state of transition, with doubts persisting over the long-term futures of both managers despite the fact that they signed new contracts earlier in the summer, as well as uncertainty surrounding several key players.
After their last visit to Wembley in May, Antonio Conte and Arsene Wenger left the stadium in contrasting moods yet united by the possibility that they could leave their clubs as winners, of the Premier League and the FA Cup respectively. Instead they went on to sign new deals but the uncertainty remains, as both men are only retained on two-year contracts and the boards at Chelsea and Arsenal are already giving considerable thought to the identity of their successors.
Arsenal are hoping that that process and Wenger’s eventual departure after 23 years can be managed in an orderly and dignified fashion, although Chelsea’s experience of handling 14 different managerial appointments during that period suggests that is wishful thinking.
Chelsea’s turbulent summer has demonstrated once again that even hugely successful periods – they have won two of the past three Premier League titles – are accompanied by in-fighting at Stamford Bridge, with Conte eager to avoid the fate of Jose Mourinho, who was sacked seven months after winning the title in 2015. In what appears to be a constant quest to secure more players and greater control, the Italian was bold enough last week to warn of the danger of a ‘‘Mourinho season’’, which is not the compliment it once was after the Portuguese left the club facing a relegation battle in December.
Conte’s summer of discontent led to him signing a new two-year contract on improved terms but did not extend his stay from the three-year deal he signed last year. It was a compromise that suited both parties and there is a feeling at the club that whatever happens this season it is likely to be his last one in west London. A repeat of that ‘‘Mourinho season’’ will lead to his dismissal, while if he is successful again he is likely to seek a new challenge elsewhere, as he has previously done when abruptly leaving Juventus and the Italian national team. Despite his remarkable achievement in taking Chelsea from 10th to the championship last season, the overriding feeling from the club’s hierarchy towards the manager is one of respect, rather than affection or admir- ation, largely because of his intense and irascible personality.
The admiration and gratitude felt towards Wenger by his employers is genuine - notwithstanding the tension between the manager and Ivan Gazidis, the chief executive - but despite that, Arsenal expect this summer’s contract to be his last. As at Chelsea, compromise has been the theme of the close season at the Emirates Stadium, with Wenger permitted to keep his existing back-room staff together, but the club making a series of additional appointments, including the fitness coach Darren Burgess, the former goalkeeper Jens Lehmann and the lawyer Huss Fahmy, who is dealing with contracts. Failure to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years has not quite been the "catalyst for change" that Gazidis predicted it would be to supporters towards the end of last season, but the club are clearly putting structures in place that will outlast Wenger.
Many Arsenal fans remain frustrated that the changes are not coming quickly enough, particularly regarding the player contracts that remain unsigned, leading to Wenger’s bizarre comments last weekend that having Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain running down their deals could aid the team’s performance. Sanchez has been told that he cannot leave for another English club this summer - although history suggests scepticism will be justified in that regard until August 31 - while Ozil and Oxlade-Chamberlain appear determined to keep their options open until next summer.
As a result of such uncertainty, Arsenal’s recruitment has been limited, although Wenger will be expecting the pounds 44 million record signing, Alexandre Lacazette, to make an immediate impact.
Conte has been more decisive in clamping down on player power, with neither Diego Costa nor Nemanja Matic asked to report for the club’s tour of China and Singapore, although several important issues remain unresolved. Costa has no future at Chelsea, but has yet to secure the transfer he craves to Atletico Madrid, and his lawyer is threatening legal action against the club, while Conte remains unhappy about the size of his squad.
Despite having spent pounds £130 million on Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Antonio Rudiger, the 48-year-old laboured the point yesterday (Friday) that he needs several more players, emphasising his belief that one more addition would not solve all his problems.
In a bizarre quirk, Chelsea and Arsenal have already met once during pre-season, with Conte’s side winning 3-0 in Beijing but this morning’s game should have provided a clearer indication of each team’s readiness for the new campaign.
in another sign of the ties that bind them, both sides were expected to line up in a 3-4-3 formation at Wembley, with Wenger having belatedly aped Conte’s tactical switch towards the end of last season with similar success, as Arsenal won nine of their final 10 matches, climaxing with that FA Cup final victory over Chelsea. Ironically, Conte had only switched to three at the back after a 3-0 defeat at Arsenal last September.
Arsenal have won three of their past six meetings with Chelsea, including the Community Shield two years ago, but have generally lost the fixtures that have really mattered.
As both clubs look to the future, the biggest difference is that tomorrow never comes for Chelsea, where winning trophies today is all that matters.