Arsenal Needs a New Coach and Arsene Wenger at the Same Time

A large proportion of Arsenal fans are demanding change as yet another trophyless season seems very much likely. Fans are starting to call for Wenger's head and the pressure is on the new owner, Stan Kroenke, to make drastic changes.

However, sacking Wenger is not the answer. He won four FA Cups and three Premier League titles between 1996 and 2005 and nothing since then. So what changed?

The biggest change was the switch from Highbury to the Emirates. This was a much needed, but costly venture for Arsenal and limited their power in the transfer market. The move also coincided with the beginning of the Arsenal trophy drought.

While the limited transfer budget may have affected Arsenal's on-field performance, there was another development which had a bigger impact and was largely overlooked.

David Dein, Arsenal's football director left the club in 2007 after disagreements with board members. With him, Arsenal lost an important link between the manager and the board.

Dein's expertise in player transfers and contract negotiations were crucial for the team's on-field success. More importantly, this allowed Arsene Wenger to focus on his primary job of coaching the team.

His departure has created a void that Ivan Gazidis has not been able to fill. This has reflected in the Arsenal transfers, too.

Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas were the last quality gems unearthed by the Gunners and this was done while Dein was still on board. Since then, there has not been any signing of comparable quality, barring Samir Nasri from the French League.

Even ardent Arsenal fans will accept that Wenger is not the best man manager or tactician around.

How many times have we heard of him dishing out the hair-dryer treatment to the players? Some of his team related decisions have been questionable. Making Gallas the captain instead of Gilberto being one of them.

The current situation at the club calls for a drastic change in the Arsenal management. One of the options that Kroenke could look at is relieving Arsene Wenger of his coaching duties and appointing him as the director of football.

A new coach will bring in new ideas, a new perspective while the continuing presence of Wenger will ensure that the broader philosophy of Arsenal remains intact.