Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour has insisted that Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe isn’t ready to become the next Gunners manager in the short-term future.
The 38-year-old has been linked with the post in recent weeks, as noted by Sky Sports, and he has certainly done a great job with the Cherries having played a pivotal role in getting them from League Two to the Premier League.
With Jack Wilshere on loan at the Vitality Stadium this season, the move was seen as another link between the north London giants and Howe, with Arsenal needing to identify a suitable successor to Wenger when the French tactician eventually decides to call time on his spell at the Emirates.
However, Parlour isn’t convinced that Howe is the answer at this stage of his career, and believes that he needs to move up a level to compete for Europe with a club first and gain experience with that type of pressure before moving up to Arsenal and a top-four pursuit.
“He has certainly done a great job [at Bournemouth], but I just think it maybe a little bit too big for him at this time of his career,” the former Arsenal midfielder told Goals on Sunday.
“I think he has to go to the next level after Bournemouth, maybe like an Everton, or someone like that who is going to be challenging for the top six.
“And then maybe move to the top four level, but Eddie has done nothing wrong and he is learning the game still and about players and systems and the way to play.”
Parlour undoubtedly makes a valid point as Arsenal will have to consider Howe’s ability to deal with a different type of pressure that comes with joining a European giant, should he even be in contention as at this stage it’s merely all hearsay.
Further, some will question his ability to attract the top level players and his chances against elite managers across Europe, so there are certainly many more boxes that must be ticked which does make it a gamble regardless of the qualities he has shown thus far.