Friday 22 April 2016 08:07, UK
Alan Smith doubts Arsene Wenger is able to take Arsenal forward and feels someone like Diego Simeone would have a bigger impact at the club.
Alexis Sanchez's double earned Arsenal a 2-0 win over West Brom at the Emirates on Thursday night to move up to third in the Premier League, but they remain 10 points behind Leicester with four matches to play.
Sky Sports pundit Smith feels Wenger has failed to find the right chemistry in a squad that should be challenging for the title and wonders if the players would benefit from hearing a different voice next season, citing the current Atletico Madrid manager as an example.
The former Arsenal striker told Sky Sports: "You don't want to go out on a low after wheat he's achieved at this club, but he has always gone on record as saying if he felt he couldn't take the team forward and improve the team he would walk away.
"Can he improve this team? I've got my doubts and I think a lot of other people have. He has been here a long time.
"When George Graham was here I played for him for eight years and by the end of that time we had heard all of his rollickings and all of his team talks. It does get a bit stale.
"Wenger has done well to last 20 years, but I go back to words like 'optimism' and 'excitement'. Will there be that inside this stadium for the first kick-off of next season given the situation with the other clubs and all their new managers?
Diego Simeone is a complete contrast; black and white really. They would be harder to beat with him at the helm.
"With the group they have got I don't think the chemistry is right in terms of leaders and nastiness sometimes, but I maintain you could get a better performance out of that group than Arsene Wenger has managed to get.
"For instance, Diego Simeone is a complete contrast; black and white really. They would be harder to beat with him at the helm.
"That's probably a fair comment because of the steel he would bring to it. Arsene Wenger is a much different manager."
Fans held up banners calling for Wenger to leave during Thursday's Premier League match, but Wenger insisted earlier this week that he has no plans to leave.
And fellow Sky Sports expert Jamie Redknapp insisted it would be tough for Arsenal to find the right manager to replace him.
He said: "You look at the managers available at the moment and there aren't too many that would fit the bill for this brilliant football club.
"Maybe Joachim Loew, the Germany manager, might fit the philosophy and style of play, but after that it's very difficult.
"I love Simeone and could watch his teams play all day long, but it's a complete contrast. They are up-and-at-them.
"It's a completely different style and I can't imagine Mesut Ozil enjoying that too much."
And after watching Thursday night's game, Redknapp can understand the frustration of supporters following a season of underachievement.
"It's a big result, but it papers over the cracks really. It doesn't tell us anything," he added.
"Arsenal shouldn't be in a position where they are scrambling to get into the top four - from a position two points off Leicester eight weeks ago.
"This still isn't really good enough and I'm sure the fans are not happy with that. Now all they can do is get into the top four.
"That's what they have to do and it's still going to be tight. I think this one should get them over the line."
