Collymore’s column: Arteta might not be right for Arsenal, Kane could come home and much more



In his exclusive column for CaughtOffside, former Aston Villa and Liverpool attacker Stan Collymore discusses some of football’s biggest talking points, including whether Mikel Arteta is still the right man to lead Arsenal, why Harry Kane could come home and why Unai Emery should be manager of the season, plus much more.

—

Is Arteta really the right man to lead Arsenal?

Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta may not be the right man for the job

So if Arsenal don’t win the title (especially as they’re out of the CL now), do we have a serious conversation about whether he’s the man to take the big silverware to Arsenal?

£690m spent, playing Kai Havertz in midfield against a well drilled Villa team who outfought and out-thought them in the second half… if there’s another choke on the same scale as last year then surely Arsenal need to at least be looking around the market to see if there’s someone who can get them over the line?

Arteta’s no rookie let’s not forget.

He’s been an apprentice at City, has had plenty of time to settle and implement his ideas at Arsenal and brought in the players HE wanted, including the likes of Havertz, Jesus – who when not injured hasn’t done anywhere near enough to suggest he’s a regular 25 goal a season striker – and if Zinchenko is the ‘leader’ that would transform the dressing room into winners then I’ve yet to see it in his performances.

Pressure is on, Mikel.

Forget the players, it’s on you now to prove you can lead when it matters.

Harry Kane wants to come home

Harry Kane might be homesick according to Stan Collymore

So the Kane jinx continues to strike in Munich as Bayer win the title, which leaves the question, will Bayern look to cash in on Harry’s super individual season, potentially after a good Euro’s, to several clubs who arguably need his services, or does he stay, Duke it out again next season and wrestle the Bundesliga back?

I think secretly he wants to come home, and if you were Manchester United, potentially with a new manager and under new ownership, the signing of Kane would represent cache and intent.

Chelsea also could use not only his goals but his experience to help the young pups along. I thought earlier on this season that he should stay and fight Bayer next season to get the title back but I’m particularly warming to Kane to Chelsea.

They have the cash, it’s his city and they desperately need some calm heads around the place, people you can rely on.

They don’t come calmer than Kane and the fact he knows Poch so well may be the focus that the manager and owner need to get the Blues back firing towards that top four.

Unai Emery for manager of the season

An early shout with a lot of football still to decide the pots and pans and golden tickets to stay up or get into Europe, but I can’t think of a better shout than Unai Emery as manager of the season.

Why?

Well, notwithstanding the ifs and buts, like getting into the Champions League places with games to play, I’ll stick to facts…

This guy followed Steven Gerrard who presided over one of the most soulless Villa teams of any decade.

Players who are now flying seemed disconnected from the fans, the manager never opened up and appreciated Villa’s tremendous support and the club nearly went down for a second time in five years – something the relatively new and very wealthy owners just wouldn’t have.

Unai Emery for manager of the year?

So in comes a guy who’s reputation in England was shaped exclusively by being the man who followed Wenger at Arsenal, an almost impossible job as Man United’s last five managers will testify.

Unai Emery has ensured that Villa have an attractive team, the connection between fans has been restored, players, club and manager are vibrant and one of England’s biggest and grandest clubs is finally punching with the big dogs again – and knocking plenty out.

That’s down to the insane amount of hard work Emery insists on from everyone around him.

He’s a likeable and quietly passionate man who loves the sport and the support of two owners who put the money in but aren’t seen on Sky Sports News every five minutes telling you what their grand plans are.

Unai Emery, took on a relegation-threatened team and is on the brink of taking almost the same team to the Champions League.

That’s worthy of a gong or two in my book.

Cole Palmer could take Saka’s place in the England XI

Cole Palmer inspired Chelsea to a memorable win against Everton.

Told ya!

A few weeks ago in this column I said Palmer should start for England at Euro 2024 and albeit his masterclass on Monday night was against a relegation threatened Everton.

This kid is ice cold, fears no man, no reputations bother him and he just drives his skill through defences like a juggernaut.

I suggested him on the left but you know what, Bukayo Saka may have to watch his back down England’s right as not only Palmer may end up overtaking him if his season continues to yield goals, but with Saka constantly limping at the end of games, apparently with a long standing injury, then it may well be Palmer who gets the nod down that right with West Ham’s Jarod Bowen as his deputy.

Watch this space!!

Dyche up against it at Everton

Everton’s Sean Dyche

I like Sean Dyche. No nonsense, organises teams well with the aim of competing within a budget, is a modern day hybrid of Sam Allardyce and Harry Redknapp, both of whom, at their best could put out teams that didn’t just scrap and fight and show classic English attributes, but in Allardyce’s Bolton and Redknapp’s Spurs, they could play too.

Likewise, Dyche at Burnley where his Clarets side were criminally underrated at times.

Everton are a mess on and off the pitch – mostly off – and I do wonder whether even Dyche’s famous enthusiasm and ‘never say die’ attitude will come up short as one of England’s great clubs has sadly become a basket case.

That’s mostly been down to Moshiri and the late Bill Kenwright. As someone said the other day of the late chairman; “a great Evertonian but a poor chairman.”



I think what Everton were left with on the pitch when Dyche walked in were waifs and strays, some were bought over the odds, some are ageing, some have to be wrapped in cotton wool 80% of the time, and eventually it will tell.

I fear that time is now.

Do I think Dyche should stay? Yes, under normal circumstances I believe he could build phase one of a new Everton as they walk into their new stadium, but with points deductions ongoing, scratching for form and not being able to rely on key players I do fear for him.

One thing is for certain, should he go, Everton won’t be needing a great coach who plays like a Pep or even an Emery. They need a club builder, a force of nature to follow and dare I say, a bit of a miracle worker.