The Dortmund coach is set to leave the Bundesliga club at the end of the season but Nigel Winterburn believes the Gunners should stick with the Frenchman
Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn believes Jurgen Klopp would be a "perfect fit" for the Gunners but has called on the club to place their faith in Arsene Wenger for two more years.
Klopp put a number of European clubs on alert last week when he announced he will be leaving Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season, terminating his contract in the process.
Arsenal have repeatedly been touted as a potential destination for the German, who has won two Bundesliga titles and been a Champions League runner-up during his time at Signal Iduna Park.
Klopp has drawn something of a cult following for his exploits at Dortmund, his brash, energetic style combining perfectly with the high-pressing, turnover-based game that won the club so many admirers.
Winterburn - who won three Premier League titles and made over 500 appearances in 12 years at Arsenal - concedes that Klopp has the "credentials" required, but is cautious of a change in the Emirates dugout.
"If Arsene Wenger decides to step down or move upstairs, then obviously he’s a manager with the credentials, the way his teams play, I think a lot of people would think it’s a perfect fit," he told Goal.
"It sounds good, it sounds right, I think in essence you never really know until that manager comes in and you see the players leave and the players come in, and where the team will finish.
"It looks right, but again I would always hold judgement and wait – while supporting that manager – until he’s had at least one season to show what his methods are and what he can do for the football club."
Arsenal have enjoyed a superb run of form since losing to local rivals Tottenham in early February, winning eight consecutive Premier League matches and securing a second consecutive FA Cup final berth.
As a result of their domestic form, Arsenal are on course for a second-placed finish in the Premier League and Winterburn believes Wenger must be allowed to see through his vision for the current Gunners squad.
Arsenal have spent heavily in the past two years - acquiring the likes of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid and Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona - and Winterburn says the club are on the precipice of continued success.
He added: "My thoughts are quite clear, and that's why I talk about the next three years. This year we've just had, in terms of the spending power and the players coming in, and the next two, where we'll see the vision of where Arsenal are going to go and where they'll be after that.
"I would like Arsene Wenger to see out the next two years, and see where we are then, but obviously, with Klopp leaving Dortmund, it sort of puts the conundrum in because he’s been linked with Arsenal before, particularly when Arsenal were struggling. Wenger was coming under severe pressure, so I understand where it’s coming from but I would be surprised if there was a change this summer."
Winterburn has also defended Wenger for his somewhat minimal outlay in the transfer windows prior to the €50 million signing of Ozil, claiming that the club were severely limited in their ability to spend by the debt they took on in the wake of their move to the Emirates Stadium.
"I had the luxury of playing under Arsene Wenger so I know what he's all about, and I know there's been a lot of frustration around the supporters in terms of the move to the new stadium and being able to sell the vision of being able to compete with the big boys," he said.
"But my views are quite clear and I've never hidden away from them; I don't think Arsenal had the spending power, while that stadium debt was being whittled down, to compete with the top teams. You don't have the likes of Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas within your squad and allow them to leave if you can bring in players to complement them, lets say like Alexis Sanchez at €40 million.
"I don't believe Arsene Wenger would not have spent that money to help improve the squad."
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