Could a change of manager boost Arsenal’s title hopes?

It has been 12 seasons of hurt as far as Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes are concerned. Under manager Arsene Wenger, the Gunners have won the title three times, but the last time is now more than ten years in the past.

Arsenal might be perennial Champions League entrants, but even that pales into insignificance when compared with winning the world’s richest league. The football betting fraternity does not appear to have total confidence in the Gunners winning this season’s title.

Ladbrokes are currently offering odds of 12/5 to fans willing to bet on Arsenal ending the 2015-16 campaign as champions. That is the second best in the league; Manchester City are being offered at 4/5.

Following their below par start, current champions Chelsea are being given odds of 18/1 to retain their title, and their manager, Jose Mourinho, is undoubtedly already under pressure.

There are occasional rumblings about Wenger’s continued presence at the Emirates Stadium, but that is nothing compared to the pressure endured by Mourinho or that which led to Brendan Rodgers’ departure from Liverpool.

However, the Frenchman does have his detractors, especially among his peers, the latest being new Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce. Nevertheless, Wenger’s players remain loyal to him. Striker Danny Welbeck told The National: “Obviously, Arsene’s done a great job at Arsenal, and you can’t really fault what he’s done. When I’ve been there he’s been great with me and great with the other lads as well from what I’ve seen.”

If Wenger finally departs, who is his successor likely to be? The bookies were left wrong-footed when their favourite, Jurgen Klopp, moved to Liverpool instead. Another likely new Gunners manager being mooted is former two-time Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Could Arsenal’s hopes of ending their Premier League title drought be boosted if the likes of Ancelotti take over? That remains to be seen. In the meantime, however, Wenger remains in charge.

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