It seems scarcely believable that Marco Silva has been a Premier League manager for less than 10 months – a testament to the speed of his ascent in English football, from Paul Merson rant material to tactical prodigy. As recently as 2016 very few of us knew who he was and yet as his Watford side prepare to face Arsenal this weekend we can realistically look at this match as an audition of sorts for the Portuguese manager.
Arsene Wenger surely cannot expect to earn yet another contract when his current deal expires in 2019, when he will be 69 and, bar a miracle, will have overseen three successive seasons without Champions League football. This means the Arsenal board have 18 months to find a successor to the Frenchman, and although there will be bigger names available – Thomas Tuchel, Peter Bosz, and Patrick Vieira spring to mind – arguably the best candidate is the man overseeing his second tactical revolution within the space of six months.
Silva’s Watford have made an outstanding start to the season, losing just once – to Manchester City – and picking up three consecutive away victories. Having held a 41-game unbeaten home record as a manager before defeat at Hull City in May, victory at Vicarage Road against Arsenal on Saturday wouldn’t even register as a shock result. The hosts should be considered favourites for this one, and a win would see them jump above the Gunners and into the top six.
The Arsenal board will surely take notice should Silva tactically outthink Wenger, who is arguably the worst tactician in the Premier League right now. Arsenal’s playing style has barely shifted in 20 years and their eclectic but familiar form is evidence of Wenger’s laissez-faire attitude to tactics. His side never react to their opponent, never change midgame, and rarely look as if they have received any coaching whatsoever during the week - which is why an approach for Silva would make a lot of sense.
Wenger’s relaxed coaching style is well documented, and presumably, the board will be looking to turn sharply away from this attitude when they make a new appointment in 2019, by which point the club will require dramatic restructuring and a new tactical philosophy. What has been striking about Silva is his flexibility and diligence to tactical preparation coupled with a relentless desire to play aggressive attacking football; he is the perfect man to instil a new sense of purpose for those jaded Arsenal players while maintaining the club’s long-standing tradition of attacking, possession-centric football.
It is far too early for Arsenal to begin approaching prospective managers, but make no mistake the board will already be assessing candidates. Bigger names will be floated in meetings between now and the summer of 2019, but if Silva continues his superb then he will surely be in contention. Victory against Arsenal on Saturday would confirm that Wenger needs replacing – and that Silva is a perfect candidate for the job.
