Mikel Arteta would '100 per cent' leave Arsenal to manage Man Utd, says Rio Ferdinand

Mikel Arteta would ‘100 per cent’ leave Arsenal to manage Manchester United, says Rio Ferdinand (Picture: Getty)

Rio Ferdinand has risked the wrath of Arsenal supporters after claiming Mikel Arteta would ‘100 per cent’ leave the club to take charge of Manchester United if they came calling.

Arteta has transformed Arsenal into genuine title challengers after years of failure and uncertainty towards the end and following Arsene Wenger’s reign, which concluded in 2018.

After steering the Gunners to a second-placed finish in the Premier League last season, Arteta’s men sit third after 26 games this campaign, just two points adrift of leaders Liverpool.

There were major question marks over Arsenal’s title credentials as they suffered a severe dip in form over a rocky winter period, but the north London club have responded in style, winning six games on the bounce in the English top flight.

By contrast, Manchester United find themselves languishing down in sixth place after losing at home to Fulham at the weekend and the defeat means they now trail Arsenal by 14 points.

However, if Erik ten Hag were to move on from Old Trafford in a ‘wild dream’ scenario, Ferdinand believes Arteta would accept an offer to replace the Dutchman in a heartbeat.

On what would happen if Manchester United moved for Arteta, Ferdinand told VIBE with FIVE: ‘He’s off!

Arteta’s Arsenal are riding a six-game winning streak in the Premier League (Picture: Getty)

‘Arteta would leave Arsenal to go to Man United, 100 per cent. He would!

‘Nobody is saying it’s happening but if Man United in a wild dream said, “Do you know what, Erik ten Hag, thank you”, or Erik ten Hag has been poached by Bayern Munich and he goes there…

‘And then Manchester United say, “Right, top of our list is Arteta”, Arteta is going in and saying to the lads, “Listen guys, it’s been emotional but I’ve got to move, I’ve got to go, good luck next season!”‘

Ten Hag’s job could be under threat, according to Ferdinand (Picture: Getty)

In a separate video, Ferdinand warned Ten Hag that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS would have no problem sacking him should results spiral at Manchester United in the back-end of the season.

Asked whether Ten Hag will keep his job if United fail to finish in the top four, Ferdinand replied: ‘It depends how [he finishes the season]. If he runs it close and they see an upturn in form and an upturn in the environment at the training ground. And if they can see something where it’s like, “Okay we can see what it looks like going into next season maybe, if we add the right pieces to it as well”.

‘Given the structure behind him now it could be [a different story]. A lot of moving parts have to fall into place for him to stay.

‘But if they don’t finish the season well and they’re losing games and it looks like the dressing room ain’t a harmonious place… and one thing I would say is, I don’t think Jim Ratcliffe and his team are shy of making big decisions.’

The ex-England centre-back added: ‘It wouldn’t be a big thing for them if they had to intervene.

‘They wouldn’t be thinking, “Oh I’ve got to work out the media and the PR”.

‘No, no. What’s right for Man United now, they’ll do.’

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