Peter Crouch has claimed that Arsenal should make a move for Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder.
The Gunners parted company with Unai Emery earlier this week, and the ex-England international is in no doubts about who they should be pursuing to replace the Spaniard.
Writing in a column for the Daily Mail, he said: “Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo is favourite to replace Emery but what about Chris Wilder?
“People will turn their noses up at that suggestion and I expect Arsenal will think they are better than appointing a manager from Sheffield United. They should think again, because Arsenal are behind them in the table.
“I’ve watched Sheffield United consistently for 18 months and the way they play is fantastic. It is fearless, it is inventive and expansive and Wilder has done an exceptional job. They are aggressive but they are attractive — qualities you used to associate with Arsenal.”
Would Wilder do a good job at Arsenal?
Chris Wilder has been fantastic since he took over at Sheffield United, and his side are arguably the surprise package of the season thus far.
Flying high in sixth, they have vastly outperformed even the most optimistic of targets so far this term, and Wilder has had a large part to play in that.
As Crouch says, he has managed to strike a balance between robust, pragmatic football, and intelligent, cultured play. It’s a mix that has been missing at the Emirates for far too long, and the Gunners are crying out for somebody who can instil a little bit of backbone.
And Crouch isn’t the only one who has been impressed by him either.
Ray Parlour has lavished praise on him recently during an appearance on talkSPORT, as per The Star, while Ian Holloway has argued that he is “pound-for-pound” the best manager in the Premier League at the moment in a column for the Sack Race.
That’s a big claim, but given the Blades’ recent form, it’s hard to argue with it too much.
