Pep Guardiola can take Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice to new Arsenal heights amid managerial change
Imagine having both Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola as your coaches, that would be pretty incredible, wouldn’t it? Well, a couple of the best wide players in the world from the past decade had exactly that combo when the two Spaniards were at Manchester City together.
Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane were both based in the northwest when Arteta worked with Guardiola in his setup at the champions. However, Arteta left to become the Arsenal head coach yet if recent reports are to be believed, some players might again have the pleasure of receiving such coaching.
According to the journalist Sami Mokbel, England see Pep Guardiola as a dream appointment to replace Gareth Southgate, who could be set for a departure from the job after Euro 2024. Guardiola would end a stay at City which has become something of a thorn in Arsenal’s side of late, as the Spaniard pipped the Gunners to the title last season and the Citizens’ perfect start this season sees them lead by two points.
A switch from City to England wouldn’t only be a huge benefit for Arsenal no longer having to worry about the prospect of Guardiola at City, but their England stars would then be under the tutelage of arguably the best coach in the world. Arteta’s philosophy has taken so much from his former mentor, as is evident in so many of his setups in north London.
That, in turn, would create a far less dramatic difference when switching from club to international football. Southgate’s style has not been particularly praised for its fluid tactical impact and more so a functional way to progress through tournaments before being knocked out in games that England, arguably, should have won – although the defeat to France was more justifiable.
The thought of Rice and Saka
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