Massimiliano Allegri 'being recommended' to Arsenal as Mikel Arteta sack pressure grows
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is under intense pressure at the Emirates.
Posted Sunday, December 20, 2020 by Express.co.uk
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is under pressure at the moment, with the Gunners having their worst start to a top flight season since the 1974-75 campaign. The club appears to be firmly behind the Spaniard, with technical director Edu publicly backing Arteta.
However, former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has been linked with the job, with the Italian currently out of work after leaving the Serie A giants in 2019.
According to former Arsenal striker Alan Smith, it is "an open secret" that Allegri is being recommended to the club.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, Smith said: "As an inexperienced boss finding life difficult just now, the Spaniard will quickly find out if he's got the backing of his players, particularly senior ones more willing to speak out.
"Because when results go against you, when the going gets tough, footballers start to complain.
Massimiliano Allegri 'being recommended' to Arsenal as Mikel Arteta sack pressure grows
"Nothing new there. That has always happened.
"But the modern day player holds a lot more sway.
"They are indeed more powerful as independent entities earning serious money.
"In addition, it's an open secret among football agents that Max Allegri, the Italian coach who enjoyed great success at Juventus, is being recommended as Arsenal's next manager.
"Not by the club I should stress, but by outside forces who want to capitalise on a difficult moment for the young manager.
"They seem to think Allegri would stand more of a chance, what with his years of experience in Serie A.
"To survive situations like this, Arteta needs unequivocal backing from those above.
"The management structure, led by chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and possibly including Stanley Kroenke's son Josh, must take decisive steps to publicly support their manager to avoid his authority getting undermined.
"Those recent words of support from Edu, the technical director, are a start but not enough.
"In tandem, Arteta has got to make clear to the dressing room who's calling the shots, who's actually in charge of this listing ship.
"Because if players sense weakness, attitudes can swiftly change. Respect for the boss starts falling away.
"That's why Arteta's message must be clear and strong."
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