Arsenal can quickly turn around their dismal form if they get the right manager in, according to Kenny Cunningham.
The former Republic of Ireland captain was speaking on Monday’s OTB AM and touted Carlo Ancelotti and Mikel Arteta as potential replacements.
“I don’t think they’re destined to be in the doldrums for the next five or six years. But yeah, it needs fundamental change.
“In a reasonably short period of time -albeit with a number of players moving out the door and a number coming in - that can change reasonably quickly. Over the course of a year, 18 months, two years [Arsenal can improve].
The former Wimbledon defender feels that there are major problems within Arsenal’s boardroom and that Ancelotti might be able to have an effect on the higher-ups.
“I’m a huge fan of Ancelotti. I think he ticks quite a number of boxes in terms of Premiership experience.
“I think his man-management stands out to the players that have worked underneath him. He has a great relationship with players and is a man of real stature.
“You would have thought he’s a person that has a strong personality as well to have those conversations with people further up the chain in Arsenal in terms of what needs to be done and in terms of recruitment in particular.
“Particularly how the club functions at a boardroom level,” Cunningham said.
However, the 72-times capped Ireland international didn’t claim that Ancelotti would be a perfect fix and questioned whether a younger manager may be more suited to the Gunners.
“I think the fact that he hasn’t come into a situation like at Arsenal before - how bad things are within the dressing room and the kind of work that needs to be done.
“I think there’s an element of risk to that taking Ancelloti in opposed to Mikel Arteta - a very young, very energised, very driven manager and very demanding.
“But then you look at Arteta and say, ‘Would he get the type of reaction from the players, especially in the dressing room, that someone of the stature of Ancelotti would?'
“So there’s no given, it’s as simple as that lads, in terms of who you’d bring in. But it’s still a massive decision - the manager. If they can get that right, things can change straight away,” Cunningham commented.
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