Former Chelsea and Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri has emerged as the latest surprise contender for the Gunners’ managerial post as a potential replacement for under-pressure Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, according to reports.
Sarri could well be on his way back to London this summer also as a possible candidate for the Tottenham managerial hot seat after the sacking of Jose Mourinho.
Spaniard Arteta oversaw a 3-1 victory over West Brom on Sunday, but the season still has nonetheless been a major disappointment for the Gunners who currently sit ninth in the Premier League table and look unlikely to qualify for European competition.
Missing out on the top seven would see the north London side disastrously out of Europe competition for the first time since the 1995/96 campaign, leaving Arteta open for criticism of late, particularly after his side were inconspicuously kbooted out of the Europa League by Villarreal on Thursday.
Suggestions have emerged pressuring Arsenal to replace their manager this summer, and former Chelsea manager Sarri is among those who has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Emirates Stadium hot seat next term, according to Italian station Radio Punto Nuovo.
Sarri, although largely unpopular during his time with the Blues, did lead the club to Europa League glory and a top-four finish during his tenure there and has been out of work since leaving Juventus at the end of last season, having been sacked after failing to lead the Old Lady to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
However he did win the Serie A title in Turin while Juventus currently sit a dismal fifth in the standings under Andrea Pirlo.
Meanwhile, Tottenham are also on the lookout for a new boss and could also look towards Sarri as a potential replacement for Mourinho. Although the Italian had been tipped to take over at Roma, a sudden turn of events saw the former Spurs boss hired to be in charge at the Stadio Olimpico in 2021/22, as was reported by the Giallorossi last week.
Ryan Mason is currently interim Tottenham manager but is not expected to be handed the job on a full-time basis.
Spurs sit seven points adrift of the top four with just three matches remaining.