Arsenal: Will Christian Gourcuff Succeed Arsene Wenger as Manager?

The headlines linking Lorient and London, two cities with almost nothing common at first glance, haven't seemed to cease this past week.

Christian Gourcuff, the manager of FC Lorient, has earned a healthy dosage of media reception recently, thanks to a burgeoning bond between his club and Arsenal, where his French compatriot Arsene Wenger has been manager for 15 years.

The 56-year-old Gourcuff, who will be six years Wenger's junior in a matter of days (Le Prof turns 62 on Oct. 22) does have a mark of longevity on his colleague.

Gourcuff has been managing FC Lorient for 24 seasons combined (broken up into three separate spells, with the most recent interrupted turn beginning in '03).

Ever since Wenger purchased former Merlus defender Laurent Koscielny from Gourcuff's side in summer '09, the bonds between the two teams have only continued to strengthen.

Current Gunners midfielder Francis Coquelin spent 2010-11 on loan with Lorient. Based on Coquelin's impressive debut this season, that spell looks to have done him a world of good.

The most recent Arsenal man on the Lorient books is Costa Rican striker Joel Campbell, who was shipped out to Gourcuff's outfit this summer after he failed to acquire a work permit in England for the 2011-12 season. Gilles Sunu, a Gunners youth product, sealed a permanent transfer to Lorient at the end of August.

Even Jeremie Aliadiere, the oft-injured former Gunner striker, was recommended to Gourcuff this past summer. Gourcuff heeded the advice and snapped Aliadiere up. The new signing has gone on to score four goals this season—a healthy return.

ESPN Soccernet posted a story this past week in which Gourcuff sang Campbell's praises, and spoke of how if he had his druthers, he'd be able to retain the lanky hitman after the season.

He spoke of an "affinity on the level of management" between Lorient and Arsenal, ie. a shared philosophy in how to go about playing the game.

Lorient, while possessing nowhere near the quality of Arsenal, nevertheless employ the same sort of footballing ethos. They are kindred souls, Gourcuff and Wenger, each refusing to sacrifice the quality of the football played on the pitch. The style is as important as the result.

Ligue1.com writer Matthew Spiro wrote an excellent piece Saturday detailing the myriad commonalities between the two clubs. While Gourcuff denies having a "special relationship" with Arsenal, the fact remains that a number of Gunners—both past and currently employed—have filtered into the confines of Le Moustoir stadium.

“We certainly share a similar ideology,” Gourcuff pointed out [in Spiro's article]. “But this desire to play good football is the only thing that links the two clubs. Arsène knows how we work here, and that enables us to pick up players we wouldn’t otherwise be able to attract.”

According to Gourcuff, Coquelin has raved about his stay in Bretagne and credits it with facilitating his excellent start with the Gunners in 2011-12.

The similarities are strong. The footballing ethos coincides beautifully. Might Wenger—who has hinted in the past that his managerial successor will have to share the same philosophy instituted by the Frenchman in North London—opt for Gourcuff?

While fans would naturally feel more comfortable with a high-profile replacement along the lines of Barcelona tactician Pep Guardiola, the names of potential successors that Wenger has bandied about aren't the ones you'd naturally expect.

Dragan Stojkovic, current manager of J-League side Nagoya Grampus (Japan), has been one of the names most frequently mentioned by Wenger. Stojkovic played under Wenger at Grampus when the Frenchman helmed the club in the mid-90s and has been thoroughly immersed in the Frenchman's stylized brand of football.

When a successor is named, it is more than evident that Wenger will seek assurance that he will blend into the club.

Gourcuff is certainly word-for-word with Wenger. Ils parlent la même langue, après tout.

Considering that the Lorient boss has managed to keep his side in the top half on Ligue 1 while working with threadbare funding, he has instead decided to predicate his system upon superb talent scouting and thrifty spending in an order to remain competitive.

Sound familiar?

Gourcuff would not be a disappointment in Ashburton Grove. Those complaining of his lack of experience managing a major club might do well remembering that few had heard of Wenger when he became the Arsenal boss, so many years ago now.

Granted, the times have changed, and perhaps, Arsenal's current frugal fiscal policy isn't a realistic one should they wish to compete for trophies, but with the UEFA Financial Fair Play policy set to take place in future seasons, a manager like Gourcuff—who knows how to get results with a realistic budget, is the perfect option.

Wenger did make the jump to the EPL from Ligue 1, after all—coming off a 1995-96 campaign in which he'd led AS Monaco to a third-place finish in France's top division. These repeated similarities must mean something.

North London might just be the perfect location for Gourcuff to reunite with his son Yoann. The current Lyon midfielder and full French international has been linked heavily with a move to Arsenal in the past couple seasons. The symmetry would be incredible.

The French connection, such a hallmark of Arsenal's success over the past decade and a half, has suffered this season. Yet, its North London roots are strong and intended to remain for future seasons.

Perhaps, it would be in the club's best interest to keep it alive, ably tended by a manager of Gourcuff's quality.