Theo Walcott believes he has a good idea of who might replace Mikel Arteta as Arsenal’s manager.
Arteta has been the Gunners’ head coach since 2019, succeeding Unai Emery after the now Aston Villa manager had overseen a tumultuous period at the Emirates.
The Spaniard has rebuilt the North London outfit, taking them from mid-table mediocrity to being perennial title challengers in recent years.
However, he’s yet to deliver a piece of major silverware to N5, and thus, discussions are already being had amongst supporters as to who could succeed him in the dugout.
Theo Walcott thinks Cesc Fabregas could replace Mikel Arteta
Arteta still has plenty of money in the bank at Arsenal and should be given a chance to succeed with the new-look squad that Andrea Berta has built for him this summer.
Berta spent £250 million in the transfer window, signing eight players who should give Pep Guardiola’s disciple a real chance of lifting silverware.
However, eventually Arteta will leave Arsenal and the Gunners will have to replace him accordingly.
Speaking on the Overlap US, former Gunners winger Walcott claimed he could see Cesc Fabregas replacing Arteta eventually.
“He hasn’t got the experience yet [Thierry Henry],” Walcott said.
“If I’m looking at the next one, I see someone like Cesc Fabregas personally, what he’s done with his building blocks, he’s working towards that, but I wouldn’t be against Thierry Henry, he’s one of the best players of all-time for me, he’s my idol.”
Fabregas is currently in charge at Como, and was linked with the Inter Milan job over the summer.
Cesc Fabregas’ coaching career so far in summary
While some fans resent Fabregas for his decision to move to Chelsea during his playing career, many still choose to remember the fond memories he created at Arsenal before his departure in 2011.
The ex-midfielder would therefore be an attractive choice for the Gunners’ hierarchy, as there is a romantic element to him potentially coming back to Arsenal as a manager and succeeding.
After spending the final season of his playing career at Como in Serie B, Fabregas retired in 2023 to become head coach of the Italian side’s under-19s team.
Just four months into his spell in this role, the head coach of the first team was sacked, and the former Arsenal captain was appointed as the replacement on an interim basis.
Eventually appointing Osian Roberts as the first team manager, Fabregas then enjoyed a period as Roberts’ assistant.
After Como won promotion to the Italian top flight at the end of the 2023/24 season, they opted to name the World Cup winner as their permanent manager.
In their first season back in Serie A, Fabregas led Como to a tenth-place finish, their best finish since they ended the 1986/87 campaign in ninth.
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