When Corbyn looks more decisive, you know Arsenal are in trouble
IT IS rather fitting that Jeremy Corbyn is a supporter of Arsenal. He’s deluded, they’re deluded. They’re made for each other, really. Corbyn steered Labour to their worst election defeat since the 1930s, lost seats that were considered winnable by a glove puppet with a red rosette, yet continues to believe he carried the political argument. Arsenal started out with a list of 10 candidates they planned to interview for the manager’s role — including several who were in gainful employment elsewhere. That idea appears to have met reality with a bang, too.
Vinai Venkatesham, Arsenal’s managing director, and Huss Fahmy, the contract negotiator, were photographed leaving Mikel Arteta’s home in Manchester in Monday’s small hours. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t play well at Arteta’s club, Manchester City, whose directors had been Arsenal’s guests that afternoon without receiving notice. City’s next match — a Carabao Cup tie with Oxford — takes place tomorrow.
Cover blown, now Arteta has been summoned to another meeting, with Josh Kroenke, the son of Arsenal’s owner, Stan Kroenke. Why? Is this process now being hastened because the decision has been made or simply to save face? If Arteta is the man, why does it require further meetings at all? Is Kroenke ticking boxes, or could he still take against Arteta at this late stage and begin the search again? If so what has been achieved beyond the ruination of Arteta’s relationship with his employers? And who do Arsenal think they are?
It is said Arsenal were planning to meet other candidates this week. Yet how did they imagine this process would work? If Arteta was no more than one name in a notebook, where could it leave him, or other contenders? Nuno Espirito Santo has been mentioned and Arsenal may feel they present a great opportunity for the Wolves manager. Yet not as one of a number. If Nuno was only being invited to a discussion, rather than a concrete negotiation, that could be career suicide. Suppose he took the interview, or even opened talks through a representative? If the news leaked it would upset his employer, alienate Wolves fans, make him appear disloyal and distracted and for what? No guarantee the job would even be his. And this may yet backfire on Arteta unless Kroenke makes an honest man of him. Pep Guardiola has already tipped him as his successor. How might that sit now? Arteta must hope he either makes a good impression with junior or Guardiola is the forgiving sort. Even then, City’s owners might not be, particularly as this news has been clumsily sprung on them, without a formal approach until later.
Equally, what does even a short delay say of Arsenal? Interview after interview after interview is hardly a vote of confidence. Arsenal will argue due diligence. Only by getting the man in the room can they discover if he possesses what is termed Arsenal’s DNA. And that’s fine for the unemployed. Ancelotti or Mauricio Pochettino may feel they are a little above auditions, but there would be no risk in sitting down to talk. Yet there could be for Arteta, unless Arsenal bring negotiations to a swift and positive conclusion.
Clubs and owners have egos, too. Even after more than seven years of brilliant service Bournemouth would no doubt feel aggrieved if Eddie Howe started taking meetings on the off-chance of a job elsewhere. A firm offer, that’s different. Arsenal is an upgrade for most, we can see that, even for a coach at Manchester City. Yet when interim manager Freddie Ljungberg is begging the hierarchy to make a decision, it gives some indication of the confusion within.
Corbyn (left) and his team are hanging on in the hope of securing a candidate from his acolytes, to continue his fine work making the party unelectable. Rebecca LongBailey is their choice. ‘You may as well just vote Tory again in 2024,’ sniffed former Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop. ‘It’ll have exactly the same consequence.’ Arsenal, meanwhile, are still waiting for the white smoke from the Kroenke residence. Is Arteta their man? When the only person in the country without a position on Brexit is coming across as more decisive, it’s not the most auspicious start.