As Arsenal prepares to play Chelsea on Saturday for what will be manager Arsene Wenger’s 1,000 game for the club Peter Hill-Wood admits that it would be hard to imagine who could replace the Frenchman at the club.
Hill-Wood was the chairman of the club for 31-years only stepping down in June due to health reasons, and insists that replacing Wenger would be very difficult.
He did however dismiss any suggestion that Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho could be a possible candidate should the 64-year-old Wenger decide to hang up his boots.
When asked if it could be a similar situation as to David Moyes taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford and if he would be worried about it ? Hill-Wood speaking to the Daily Star said: “Yes, but luckily it is not my decision.
“It will be extremely difficult – I dread to think who is coming in.
“If we were to lose Arsene it would be a nightmare
“There is nothing obvious. I am sure Arsene will have some input.
“He has an enormous amount of knowledge and has developed a lot of really excellent players, who, overall, weren’t that distinguished when they came to us.
“Many of them became household names at Arsenal. Thierry Henry is a very good example, also Cesc Fabregas, Patrick Vieira and Robin van Persie.”
Talking about the Chelsea game and the fact that Wenger has never beaten Mourinho’s team in ten attempts Hill-Wood said: I think it would be a great achievement if Arsene can get his first win against Mourinho.”
He laughed of the suggestion of Mourinho taking over at the Emirates though.
“I wouldn’t find him at all easy as manager,” he said. “I think it is most unlikely.”
He did not rule out the possibility of Everton’s Roberto Martinez though as being a possible candidate, but wanted to assure fans that Wenger was going to renew his contract and that he only wanted to wait until the end of the season.
“I have spoken to Ivan Gazidis he is very confident that there isn’t a problem that he just doesn’t want to sign up right now. That’s all.
“It’s not a question of somebody dangling great riches in front of him. That actually doesn’t interest him.
“I don’t think his enthusiasm has diminished at all. He doesn’t think his job is finished yet.”
