Wagner admires Arsenal’s style while weighing Premier League moves

Germany’s Sandro Wagner, 38, the former Augsburg head coach, sat down to discuss English football and his Premier League prospects. He praised Premier League champions Arsenal’s inside‑dribbling, dismissed summer rumours linking him to newly promoted EPL side Ipswich Town, and confirmed he has not taken that job while remaining open to a move to England or Italy.

Wagner described Arsenal’s approach as “inside dribbling”, a hallmark where a player cuts inward from the sideline to face a one‑on‑one challenge with space behind the defender. He highlighted that this technique creates clear attacking angles against compact defences.

He noted that both English Arsenal players and Ecuadorian forward Piero Hincapié execute the inside‑dribbling maneuver effectively, showing its versatility across nationalities.

Addressing the Ipswich Town speculation, Wagner said the rumours were unfounded and that he never accepted the appointment. He reiterated that the Ipswich offer did not materialise into a contract.

Wagner affirmed his openness to coaching opportunities in England or Italy, stating that either league would suit his ambitions if the right project appears.

Turning to Serie A, he praised Italian football, saying Italians “invented defending” with a minimalist, disciplined team‑wide commitment to protect the goal. He expressed admiration for how Italian coaches instil this defensive drive despite players’ natural instincts.

Reflecting on recent Champions League ties, Wagner argued that few teams now stick to fixed formations; instead, fluidity is driven by one‑on‑one pressing and new strategies that squeeze opponents out of zones.

He explained that he declined the Ipswich appointment after “good conversations” and family discussions, adding that whether he lives in northern Germany or Italy is secondary to finding the right fit. He stressed he is not in a rush and will wait for an opportunity that feels 100 % right for all parties.

Wagner contrasted his measured approach with German peers such as Marco Rose, now at Bournemouth, Edin Terzic, who moved to Bilbao, and Dino Toppmöller, heading Lens, all of whom have already secured or are close to foreign appointments this season.

Concluding, Wagner said he is “simply confident”, with no fear of moving abroad, and that as long as his family is healthy he will consider any exciting, suitable role in the Premier League or elsewhere.

His willingness to wait could keep Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, observing his analysis while they continue scouting for coaches who align with their tactical philosophies.