Antonio Conte has been lined up as Mikel Arteta's heir to the throne at Arsenal as the Spaniard is handed a five game deadline to turn his fortunes around following faltering form, according to The Telegraph.
The Gunners boss has been unable to revive the club's lost identity since his takeover from Unai Emery in December 2019, causing the north London side to lose a sense of directionality.
Arsene Wenger built the pillars that once defined and branded Arsenal, but his departure in 2018 saw the Frenchman's kingdom crumble after years of under-appreciated work closing the door on the club's core philosophies that had become world-famed.
Three years on and the Gunners continue to rue Wenger's dismissal however, the arrival of Conte could finally cut the ties from their identity crisis and open a new chapter to a new dynasty.
The north London side are calling out for the Serie A champions having finished eighth in the Premier League for successive seasons and are now without European football for the first time in 26 years.
Conte's arrival in north London would finally give the club an identity and style for the fans to attach themselves to as well as a period to cultivate the breakthrough of four Arsenal players, eyeing Victor Moses' spectacular evolution under the Italian.
Nicolas Pepe
Nicolas Pepe, who joined the Gunners from Lille in 2019 for £72 million, is yet to entirely warrant the price tag he arrived at the Emirates with despite showing glimpses of promise.
The 26-year-old winger has an eye for goal ending last season as Arsenal's second highest goal scorer (16) and second most productive creator averaging a 0.64 goals and assists per 90 minutes across all competitions.
Pepe could emulate the role Eden Hazard played under Conte at Chelsea by operating as a free-roaming supporting striker that has the freedom to drift into pockets of space, half spaces, as well as run in behind or drop deep.
Pepe has featured in a similar role for Lille in the 2017/18 season before he transitioned into becoming a right-winger the following term, cutting inside onto his potent left-foot contributing directly towards 54 goals in 79 games for the French side.
The Ivorian international has showcased incredible technical ability allowing him to score crucial goals, control and dictate games coupled with his electrifying pace to strike fear into league's best defenders.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has struggled for sustained game time in recent seasons, which can be stemmed from his recent self-branding as a central midfielder despite previously enjoying minutes as a right sided full-back and wing-back.
The 23-year-old Hale End graduate climbed the ranks at London Colney as a midfielder but made his breakthrough into the first-team as a make-shift wing-back in which he excelled in.
With stern competition for places at the heart of midfield and with the possible arrival of Conte who plays a double pivot, Maitland-Niles could flourish reverting to a right wing-back role under the Italian, imitating the resurgence of Moses.
Maitland-Niles has all the attributes Conte demands from a wing-back and would naturally be the more suitable option in said role over Cedric Soares or Calum Chambers, in the event that Hector Bellerin departs the Emirates.
Ben White
Ben White has endured a difficult start to life under Arteta at Arsenal facing already uninspiring losses to Thomas Frank's newly-promoted Brentford as well as Spurs and Chelsea in pre-season.
Arsenal's £50 million signing from Brighton has primarily been utilised in a back four, however White has great experience operating in a back three from his time at Leeds United and the Seagulls.
With prior experience and understanding of working in a back three, Conte's arrival could provide an exciting platform for White to flourish upon, much like how David Luiz excelled under the Italian when given the licence to break forward with the ball.
Thomas Partey
Thomas Partey hasn't exactly had the best first innings for Arsenal following his £45 million arrival from Atletico Madrid, but the Ghanaian international certainly has the ability to thrive under new management.
The 28-year-old midfielder has the potential play the N'Golo Kante role under Conte, combining his ball-carrying and ball-winning abilities in a pivot with Albert Sambi Lokonga or Granit Xhaka who both could play the Nemanja Matic role.
Partey prevailed as one of Europe's leading central midfielders in La Liga under Diego Simeone but is yet to emulate said performances to the same degree under Arteta - the arrival of Conte could reignite the midfielder's career.
