Arnold took on the Socceroos job in 2018 after a successful club stint that saw him win A-League championships with Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC.
Arnold has led the Socceroos to top spot in the penultimate phase of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and steered the Olyroos to their first Olympics since 2008.
If initial indications are anything to go by, Arnold is pretty comfortable with a double responsibility many others might shirk.
And if you look into the future he appears to be more than capable of overseeing our players’ natural progression from Olympic to senior level.
Which would suggest that perhaps it would not be the worst idea in the world if this arrangement became one of a permanent nature, reflecting Australia’s national teams policy.
Arnold’s contract with FFA expires in June 2022.
Australian football is crying out for a meaningful and lasting style of play that epitomises our skill level, culture, values and expectations.
And what better way to attain this than by having a coach who in a four-year World Cup, Asian Cup and Olympics cycle can work on all three fronts without the worry that another coach could undo all his work.
We can talk about unifying our approach to the game all day but no two coaches in the world have a perfectly identical mentality.
And it does not matter if the national coach is Australian or foreign because if it’s the latter case the coach would be expected to live here and observe the players in person and on a regular basis.
Such an arrangement could raise a few issues of a logistical and economic nature but its strengths probably outweigh its weaknesses,.
The direct benefits to the players and coaches of such a set-up are plentiful.
Olympic players would know that if they do well they could be promoted to the senior level by a coach who understands and appreciates them.
The coach who is very much a players' coach could build not just a World Cup or Asian Cup squad ideally with two players for each position but with three for each because Olyroos players would be on standby if the need arises.
Which is probably why Arnold put his hand up to coach the Olyroos for free after being given the Socceroos job: he obviously appreciates the importance of a smooth transition between the ranks.
Most significantly, the best Olympic players would not need to adjust to the stylistic demands of the senior team because it is highly unlikely they would be any different if the coach is the same.
This year should provide us with clear signs whether having one coach overseeing the two teams.
The Socceroos will be engaged in more World Cup qualifying matches and in their first participation in the Copa America.
And the Olyroos will fly Australia’s flag at the Tokyo Games, most probably with the Matildas.
If Australian football emerges from such a challenging assignment with flying colours the proposition of a two-fold national coaching appointment would gain serious traction.
This is something that is worth looking into and FFA could do a lot worse than think ahead in four-year cycles and examine the pros and cons.
Not when Arnold’s tenure is over hopefully in the knockout phases of Qatar 2022 but sooner rather than later.
