Is Brendan Rodgers really a candidate to be Arsenal’s next boss?

It seems that everybody is more likely to be in charge of Arsenal next season than current boss Arsene Wenger, well according to the British media anyway. The Frenchman will still have a year left on his two-year contract in north London this summer. However, highly disappointing Premier League and FA Cup campaigns has put Wenger’s position in doubt, once again.

Rebuilt his reputation in Scotland

One of the bosses linked with the hot seat at Arsenal is Celtic’s former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, who has rebuilt his reputation in the SPL. Judging by the social media and message boards, Rodgers would be an unpopular appointment amongst Arsenal fans.

However, it is hard to argue with the fact that Rodgers has been a success at Celtic. His hoops team managed to remain unbeaten for 69 domestic games. He has done a good job with the Scottish giants, but in reality, Celtic are far above the other teams in the SPL, in resources and recent history.

The Hoops constantly win a one-horse race in the SPL. Many would say that anybody could guide Celtic to dominance in the SPL. English fans decry the Scottish top-flight for a lack of competitiveness and they have a point.

Rodgers seems to love life in Scotland, though. He is winning and the fans like him. In terms of a challenge, though, the SPL has very little left to offer the 45-year-old.

The big challenge for Rodgers was attempted to achieve relative success in Europe, something he has so far failed to do with the Hoops.

Celtic are lightyears behind the Premier League clubs in finances and resources. There is a glass ceiling for the Hoops and that is what may eventually make Rodgers decide on managing elsewhere. He has even admitted to the fact himself that at some stage those financial barriers could prove too much.

Still a young boss

It is difficult to remember sometimes that Rodgers is just 45. Bosses of his age usually lack experience. However, the Northern Irish boss has managed two of the biggest clubs in the history of British football in Liverpool and Celtic.

He came very close to winning the Premier League title with Liverpool, only for a late collapse to stop the Merseysiders winning their first top-flight title in over 20 years.

Rodgers showed signs of becoming a very good boss at Liverpool. The proceeding seasons after the Reds near miss, the Reds lost their way. By the time Rodgers left the club in 2015, his reputation had taken a beating.

However, he was still highly regarded in coaching circles and those within the game. Celtic signing the undoubtedly promising young coach was something of a coup.

Despite coming across as over-confident in his own ability at times, even Rodgers would admit that he still has a lot to learn about management. Managing both Liverpool and Celtic at the highest levels of football, (Champions League) will have been a great learning curve for Rodgers.

Rodgers looks a real candidate for the Arsenal job

It seems the bookies believe that Rodgers does have a chance of becoming the next Arsenal boss, as he is the fourth favourite at odds of 9/1 to land the position.

The likes of Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti and Joachim Low are shorter odds. Some reports from German suggest that Tuchel is in contact with the Gunners with a view to taking over this summer.

For me, Rodgers is not the strongest candidate to take the Arsenal job this summer if veteran boss Arsene Wenger leaves.

I highly doubt that Rodgers will move back to the Premier League just yet. He is set to win his second straight SPL title with Celtic and it would not be a major surprise if he hung around at the Scottish club a few years more.

He has shown that he does have some managerial acumen in his previous spells in English football. However, it seems Rodgers will never be taken seriously until he proves himself in the Premier League, which will be the thing that brings the Celtic boss back to the English top-flight eventually.

Is Brendan Rodgers really a candidate to be Arsenal’s next boss?