Arsenal vs Everton: Who has the better deal in place as they look set to appoint a new boss? (Image: GETTY)
Arsenal and Everton are set to appoint new managers in the coming days with Mikel Arteta and Carlo Ancelotti both set for the jobs. But who is doing the best business? Who has got the better manager and the better fit for what they need?
Mikel Arteta and Carlo Ancelotti are set to be the latest appointments at Arsenal and Everton.
Both are in talks with the clubs and could be confirmed by the end of the week.
Arteta is set to leave Manchester City in his role as assistant to Pep Guardiola while Ancelotti was sacked by Napoli last week and has been in London for talks.
Both had also been linked with the other job in the weeks since Unai Emery and Marco Silva’s sacking, but while Everton are keen on a ‘Hollywood’ name Arsenal are looking for a young progressive boss to implement a new philosophy.
JUST IN: Carlo Ancelotti agrees four-year deal to take over at Everton
Mikel Arteta looks set to join Arsenal as manager (Image: GETTY)
Who has won the manager battle?
Ryan Taylor: Everton
Everton are without doubt getting the better deal. It’s an eyebrow-raiser that Arsenal did not pursue the Italian, a three-time Champions League winner with one of the best C.Vs around.
With all due respect to Everton, I’m surprised Ancelotti has opted to take the job given the stature of some of the sides he has managed including AC Milan, Chelsea, PSG, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
There is talk he will be made the third highest-paid coach in the world, so now Everton must show signs of improvement both on the field and in the transfer market.
Arteta is still a coup for Arsenal but supporters must understand this is now a long-term project which is going to require patience and a lowering of expectations for the meantime. It’s a dangerous proposition for Arteta too in his first job as a manager, failure here could leave him having to rebuild his coaching pedigree again below the top level.
It’s a risk worth taking and generally speaking both clubs have made their decision based on who is currently available and prepared to take over mid-season. Hopefully, we can see both in the dugout when the sides clash on Saturday lunchtime at Goodison.
Carlo Ancelotti is set to join Everton as the new manager (Image: REUTERS)
Lewis Winter: Everton
Arteta may work out being a better appointment in the long term for Arsenal.
However, football is a results business and Ancelotti will have an instant impact on that Everton squad.
Yes, the Italian is used to arriving at clubs with a better squad than has been left behind by Marco Silva, but there are plenty of good players at Goodison Park and they should be performing better than they currently are.
You would have thought Moise Kean will be happy if Ancelotti gets the job and Everton will be hoping the 60-year-old can help kickstart the teenager’s Premier League career.
As said previously, Arteta may eventually work out to be a success at Arsenal after earning rave reviews as a coach during his time at Manchester City.
However, it is very difficult to make major changes to playing style midway through a season when there are matches every few days.
Carlo Ancelotti is hoping to turn things around at Everton (Image: GETTY)
Gideon Brooks: Arsenal
If the appointments were reversed with Ancelotti heading to north London and Arteta to Merseyside, Gunners fans would probably be happier.
The Italian comes, to borrow a popular phrase, “over ready” and with a consistent record of delivery at every club he has managed.
Yet if (and I accept it is a big if but it is one which gives me a drawn out get out clause!) both men are still in the job in three years it will almost certainly be the Gunners fans smiling.
Yes, there is huge risk attached in appointing the Spanish rookie. In an ideal world Ancelotti might be appointed at the Emirates first on a six month deal to sort out the defence.
But there is also a huge upside and, with visible and vocal support from the board, he has a chance to recalibrate a club that is much closer to the promised land than the Toffees despite having veered off course of late.
Jim Holden: Arsenal
Arsenal are definitely getting the better deal of these two likely appointments.
They need a young ambitious manager to rebuild a serious team and restore enthusiasm and confidence among players and fans.
Mikel Arteta fits that template, having spent the last couple of seasons as an influential assistant to Pep Guardiola.
Yes, it is a gamble as a first managerial position for Arteta, but this looks a good move.
The same can’t be said for Carlo Ancelotti going to Everton. He has a fabulous record, but always with clubs chasing trophies.
His experience of relegation battles is close to zero. This looks like a vanity decision by a club that has badly lost its way under the current owner.
Mikel Arteta is set to become the Arsenal manager after holding talks (Image: GETTY)
Matthew Atherton: Everton
I think Everton are getting the better deal out of the two; purely because Ancelotti has managerial experience.
I really like Arteta, and he would have undoubtedly picked up a lot of knowledge by working with Guardiola at Man City.
But, he’s had one chance at taking the full reins of City – a Champions League home match against Lyon – and he lost the match.
Ancelotti’s career appears to be on the decline, and ultimately failed at Napoli, but he’ll certainly steady the ship at Goodison Park, whereas I fear for Arteta at Arsenal.
It’s a pretty toxic environment at the moment, and it’s difficult to see the changes a new manager would make that would have an impact on the pitch. It’s a tough first job, and it could be the end of his managerial career before it even gets going.
James Benson: Everton
Once upon a time, Arsenal could have had their pick of most of the world’s best managers if they’d been seeking to replace Arsene Wenger.
A decade or so on, though, they’re left looking to a former player who, while being a highly-rated young coach, is not yet anywhere near the elite bracket.
Everton, on the other hand, are set to appoint one of Europe’s most successful managers of the 21st century in the form of Carlo Ancelotti.
Yes, the Toffees are having to throw big money at the Italian. But he’s a far safer bet than Arteta as they seek to propel themselves up the table.
Everton are eager to take themselves to the level Arsenal once lived at and, although he faces a tough task, Ancelotti might be the man to make that happen with Farhad Moshiri’s millions behind him.
Jamie Anderson: Everton
It’s the age-old question of youth vs experience.
In appointing Mikel Arteta, Arsenal are taking a massive gamble. The Spaniard has worked under arguably two of the greatest managers in Premier League history in Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola.
But great tutors are no guarantee of success – just ask my GCSE maths teacher…
Arteta, 37, has a fantastic playing CV having risen through the ranks at La Masia and has played in several different countries for teams with varying styles.
However, Carlo Ancelotti has seen it all.
The 60-year-old is one of only three bosses to have won the Champions League three times – twice with AC Milan and once with Real Madrid – as well as winning domestic titles in Italy, England, France, Spain and Germany.
In my opinion, both sides have made excellent decisions but Farhad Moshiri luring a proven winner like Ancelotti to Goodison Park to undoubtedly the better deal.