Why Allegri’s decision to turn down Arsenal job is good for the club

According to Italian publication Gazzetta (h/t The Sun), Massimiliano Allegri has rejected Arsenal’s approach after he was shortlisted to replace Unai Emery.

Allegri has been out of a job since leaving Juventus at the end of last season. The report also suggests that he wants to continue this year out of football before looking for a permanent role next season.

Before leading Juventus to claim several trophies, Allegri had managed different Italian outfits like Sassuolo, Cagliari Calcio and heavyweights AC Milan. In his time with the Old Lady, he won five successive Serie A titles with them, adding to the one he previously won with AC Milan.

A highly successful manager in Italy, the 52-year-old has made the right decision in rejecting Arsenal’s job, which would also be good for the North London team.

Arsenal recently sacked Unai Emery and appointed former Gunner Freddie Ljungberg as interim head coach.

The Gunners are in a poor run of form and appointing Allegri mid-way through the season would add to their misery. At the moment, they are 8th on the league standings, which does not look good for a high-profile club.

Allegri, known as a trophy-winning manager in Italy, might take time to settle in England. The Premier League is known to be the toughest of all leagues, whereas Serie A has not been the dominant force it once used to be.

At Juventus, Allegri had a bunch of high-profile players who could easily win everything on their own and the manager knew what to expect from the players without much difficulty. But the situation would not be the same at Arsenal.

At this point, with a squad of young players, Allegri would have to study each player’s ability from the start. And by that time, it would become hard to catch up with top-four, who have all been in excellent form.

Since the Italian has no coaching experience outside his home country, taking time to adapt to the English conditions might prove to be fatal for Arsenal.

The language barrier would be another reason why Allegri’s time at Arsenal would not be fruitful. Without proper communication, he might face the same fate as Unai Emery.

Verdict

Arsenal, who are on the hunt for a new manager, would need a high-profile coach who has established himself in England. Appointing Allegri would put the club in a more dangerous position. Therefore, it is good for the club that Allegri has rejected their approach.

As the Gunners have been in contact with Nuno Espirito Santo, Brendan Rodgers, and Rafa Benitez recently, it would pay off well if any of the above is offered the job. They have proven their worth by doing well in the Premier League.