Arsenal 'Yet to Seriously Explore' Arsene Wenger Replacement Options

Arsenal have reportedly yet to make significant contact with any of the candidates they have identified as possible replacements for manager Arsene Wenger.

According to James Olley of the Evening Standard, the Gunners have not made a "formal approach" to anyone despite recent speculation in the German media that they were in talks with Thomas Tuchel.

Tuchel is poised to join Paris Saint-Germain, per Bild's Christian Falk (h/t ESPN's Mark Lovell):

The German is one of several candidates Arsenal have identified, along with Carlo Ancelotti, Joachim Low, Max Allegri and Leonardo Jardim, but they have "yet to seriously explore any alternatives" to Wenger, whose position is set to be reviewed at the end of the season despite having another year remaining on his deal.

Wenger is hoping to at least see out his contract at the Emirates Stadium and remains defiant amid a clamour for his departure this summer, which he attributed in part to age discrimination when speaking to beIN Sports:

In truth, many Arsenal fans want the 68-year-old to leave because of the team's inertia under his tutelage over the past decade or more, with three FA Cup wins since 2014 serving only to paper over some increasingly large cracks.

There were no such calls for Sir Alex Ferguson to leave Manchester United ahead of his retirement in 2013 at the age of 71 because he had successfully reinvented winning sides on several occasions during his 26-year tenure at Old Trafford.

By contrast, Wenger has failed to do that since claiming his third Premier League title in 2004, and the club has since faced a yearly struggle to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, in which they have failed to mount a serious challenge since reaching the final in 2006.

Football writer James McNicholas believes the Gunners should move on from Wenger and need to make more concrete plans ahead of the summer:

It's vital that when the time comes for Wenger to leave, his successor is able to reinvigorate and rebuild the team in a positive manner or the club could be left even further behind by their rivals.

The Mirror's John Cross doubts whether the manager will leave this summer:

The Gunners brought an end to a disappointing spell over their past three matches, as they got back to winning ways in the Premier League and overcame a strong AC Milan side 5-1 over two legs in the UEFA Europa League round of 16.

Arsenal would still benefit from replacing Wenger, even if he's able to muster silverware in that competition and a strong end to the season, as it's clear they need some new ideas and some new blood if they are to turn their fortunes around long term.

As such, it's imperative they make a more concerted effort to be ready for his succession in the coming months. Even if they allow Wenger to stay on for another year, it would do them no harm to have plans in place now.