Arsene Wenger could be facing his successor when Eddie Howe meets him in the dug out as Arsenal take on Bournemouth
The Arsenal boss will consult with the board over who replaces him as manager and Eddie Howe will be very much considered as a possible candidate
ARSENE WENGER has given a glowing reference to Eddie Howe — and dropped a hint on his own future.
Wenger will have a big say in who succeeds him at Arsenal, and was not surprised the FA looked at Howe before Gareth Southgate became top choice for the England job.
The Gunners boss revealed he turned down the France job in his 30s — insisting club football is where coaches want to be.
And the chances of Wenger, whose Emirates contract ends in the summer, jetting off to manage a country look unlikely after his swipe at international football.
Ahead of hosting Howe’s Cherries today in the Prem, Wenger said: “If you love to be part of the coaching then it is club football.
“For me, international coaching is not coaching. It is really only interesting in the big competitions.
“It is a very pressured job to be England national coach. Every week you go to a game and see whether this guy is up to the level. Do I pick him or not? But you are a bit frustrated on a daily basis.
“I was already asked in France a few times to take the national team job, even at that age of 37 or 38.
“But I thought I would have time to do it — and I’ve still not done it.”
Fifa are now looking at a 48-team World Cup, which would make qualifying even easier.
Wenger, 67, said: “In Europe you have 53 countries and 24 qualify. You play two years of qualifiers and nobody knows why.
“After, you go to the European Championships, which is of course interesting. Now they will create a 48-team World Cup.
“So we’ll start the World Cup in January and finish in June!”
FA chief executive Martin Glenn described Wenger as having the “perfect criteria” for England, but the Arsenal boss was not shocked that Howe was mentioned, too.
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The Bournemouth boss has been hailed as Wenger’s eventual successor at the Emirates after his stunning start in management.
Wenger said: “He reminds me of when I started at Nancy. There are similarities — we are blond!
“He is doing very well. I like the fact he tries to play with a positive philosophy.” Given that Wenger will have a big say in who replaces him,
Howe’s endorsement is significant.
The two managers have not spoken during Jack Wilshere’s loan to Dean Court — the Frenchman trusts the Cherries boss and his medical team
to look after the England midfielder.
Howe was also in the running for the England job, but Wenger was not surprised the 38-year-old is staying in the cut and thrust of the Prem.
He said: “For the England job, he has been mentioned because he is one of the few English managers doing well in the Premier League.
“He is a bit young, maybe, to leave a job at a club to go straight to the national team. Most of the time after the national team it is not easy for
guys to live in a serene way, especially in England.”
Howe has the utmost respect for the Frenchman, for the way he took on the British drinking culture which existed in the game.
Wenger changed the players’ bar habits when he arrived in England 20 years ago.
And Howe said: “I really admire him. He was a visionary. He’s made changes in the game that now seem commonplace.
“I have to say, 20 years is an incredible feat at one club.”
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