Arsenal considered some controversial options before appointing Mikel Arteta as manager

It was a sliding-doors moment that has shaped Arsenal's recent history. Following the sacking of Unai Emery in 2019 and years of underachievement, the Gunners were at a crossroads.

Given it was a decision the club couldn't afford to get wrong, the net was cast far and wide. Proven winners, club legends, up-and-coming managers and even an ex-Tottenham boss were among the seven other managers considered, according to the book The Inside Story of Arsenal's Rebirth Under Mikel Arteta, written by The Telegraph's Sam Dean.

Eventually, Arsenal turned to Arteta, then on Pep Guardiola's coaching staff at Manchester City, and brought him back to the club where he ended his playing career. Despite some difficult moments along the way, it has proven to be a shrewd decision, with the Gunners looking well placed to retain their Premier League title.

But what happened to the seven other main contenders for the job?

Carlo Ancelotti

The managerial legend would have been a popular choice given his success in a variety of countries, including England with Chelsea. Ancelotti did return to the Premier League in 2019, but with Everton before a second spell at Real Madrid. The Italian is now boss of the Brazilian national team.

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Patrick Vieira

Like Arteta, a man with close ties to the Gunners. Vieira was in charge of Sir Jim Ratcliffe-owned Nice at the time, but was fired in late 2020. Spells at Crystal Palace, Strasbourg and Genoa followed. He is now in charge of Senegal, the country of his birth.

Mauricio Pochettino

This would have been a highly controversial choice given he had only just left Spurs, where he still holds legendary status. The Argentine later managed PSG and Chelsea before being appointed United States boss, leading the team at the recent World Cup.

Roberto Martinez

The former Everton and Wigan boss was midway through his underwhelming spell as manager of Belgium's 'Golden Generation' when the Gunners job came up. His three-year spell as Portugal manager ended after the World Cup, he is currently a free agent.

Vitor Pereira

While he had no Premier League experience at the time, the Portuguese coach, then managing in China, was highly regarded and held talks with the Gunners. His nomadic career continued with spells in Turkey, Brazil and Saudi Arabia before eventually finding his way to the Premier League with Wolves and then Nottingham Forest. He was sacked by both, rather harshly by the latter after keeping them up. Pereira is now being linked with the Crystal Palace job, which could soon become available.

Julian Nagelsmann

The young German coach was making waves at RP Leipzig as the Gunners weighed up their options. He later landed the two biggest jobs in German football, at Bayern Munich and as boss of the national team. After stepping down following the World Cup, he is in the reckoning to succeed Michael Carrick at Manchester United.

Massimiliano Allegri

The Italian's stock was high thanks to his success in Serie A with giants like AC Milan and Juventus. Having left Juve at the end of the 2018/19 season, Allegri was on the market. He subsequently returned to Juve before another brief stint at Milan. He succeeded Antonio Conte as Napoli boss in the summer.