Arteta has turned Arsenal from a rebuilding project into a side expected to compete at the top end of both the Premier League and the Champions League. The key point is not just improvement in league position; it is the clarity of the team.
That is usually the line separating a promising coach from a top-level manager.
Alonso appears to have accelerated that journey. His work at Bayer Leverkusen pushed him into the elite bracket because it combined tactics with temperament. The structure is flexible, the build-up is clean, and his team has looked comfortable changing shape during matches.
What stands out most is authority. Some coaches need years to impose their ideas; Alonso has looked like a natural on the touchline almost immediately. That is why his name is now mentioned whenever a major bench comes into view.
If Arteta represents development and Alonso represents rapid ascent, Luis Enrique represents proven pedigree. His teams are usually aggressive, technically clean and emotionally demanding. He has long shown he can handle elite dressing rooms, title pressure and the tactical detail required in Europe.
That combination still carries weight in any ranking. Style matters, but so does surviving the scrutiny that comes with the biggest clubs.
The next shift in this debate will come with the new season. Early title races, European nights and the first genuine crisis at a heavyweight club will quickly reshape the order - and may decide who truly deserves to sit at No. 1.