5 bold predictions for 2018
Another year is coming to an end. 2017 saw Real Madrid win the UEFA Champions League for the 11th time, while Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or for the fifth time equalling Lionel Messi's tally in the process. Neymar moved to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona for a whopping €222 million to break the all-time transfer record and much more.
But all that are over. Past is past and we have to move on. We have a big year ahead and 2018 has a lot to offer with the FIFA World Cup being the biggest of it.
Here are 5 bold predictions for 2018:
#5 Arsene Wenger to get sacked, Carlo Ancelotti to replace him at Arsenal
Arsene Wenger was appointed as Arsenal manager on the 1st of October 1996. Since then the French manager won the London club three Premier League titles out of which the title win in 2004 saw them acquire the nickname 'The Invincibles' for going unbeaten the whole season. Under him, the Gunners also won seven FA Cups and FA Community Shields each.
However, the team have not won any league titles since 2004 nor have they made any UEFA Champions League triumphs despite qualifying for the tournament 19 years straight (Arsenal have not qualified for the Champions League this year and are currently playing in the Europa League, which perhaps points to the downfall of the club).
Three FA Cups and FA Community Shields each are the only achievements that Wenger has to boast about for 12 years. Arsenal fans have been calling for the manager to be sacked for some time now. They almost believed that the 68-year-old was gone this year with his contract running out, but the management decided to trust the former Monaco manager and gave him a two-year contract extension.
Arsenal currently sit seventh of the league points table below Burnley and have shown no much improvement from last year. 2018 might be the year that Stan Kroenke and co lose patience with Wenger and give him the boot.
Former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich manager Carlo Ancelotti could be the ideal replacement for Wenger at Arsenal. The Italian was sacked by German Bundesliga champions in September and will be looking for a new club to manage.