Rio Ferdinand claims only three managers would reject Man Utd to join Arsenal | Football

Rio Ferdinand has warned Arsenal supporters calling for Mikel Arteta’s sacking to ‘be careful what you wish for’ and believes the Gunners would struggle to recruit an elite-level manager in the same summer as Manchester United.

Arsenal currently sit six points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League ahead of their match at the Etihad Stadium this Sunday, while they have reached the Champions League semi-final where they will meet Atletico Madrid.

However, Arteta has faced calls to be sacked if he finishes the season without a trophy, with some supporters concerned over the team’s style of play in the second half of the season.

Ferdinand believes Arsenal would be wrong to dismiss Arteta and feels the club could struggle to compete with Manchester United, who may look beyond Michael Carrick and appoint a new manager this summer.

‘I would be careful what you wish for if I was an Arsenal fan if you think getting rid of Arteta is the best thing you guys could do,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.

‘You have to remember where you guys were when he came. You guys are consistently qualifying for the Champions League, you weren’t before Arteta came. You’re finishing second most of the time, fighting for the Premier League year in, year out.

‘You’ve got to get over the line, yes I know, but you think the grass is greener over there with another manager? Who is the other manager?

‘He [Luis Enrique] is not coming to Arsenal. He’s leaving the best team in the world to go to Arsenal – are you crazy?

‘Every manager other than Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira or Cesc Fabregas would go to Man United over Arsenal.

‘He [Fabregas] doesn’t guarantee you anything, he hasn’t won anything, as talented as he is.

‘I’m just saying, it’s not like you go from Arteta and say, ‘we’ve got a certainty’. Pep’s your only certainty and he’s not going to Arsenal.’

Ferdinand also hit back criticism of Martin Zubimendi’s recent performances for Arsenal and believes the biggest problem for Arteta is his lack of creativity in attack.

‘I’ve seen it, I’ve seen it loud and clear,’ Ferdinand replied when asked about the criticism directed towards Zubimendi.

‘They are saying he’s been a liability, he was bought just because of a good game in the Euros final, he’s the weak link.

‘Yeah, he might be at fault for a goal or something like that, he’s given the ball away a few times or made mistakes when the ball has been played directly from a goalkeeper in that holding role, but I wouldn’t say it’s down to him.

‘I think Arsenal’s biggest problem is their lack of attacking flair, their willingness to just take the shackles off and go for it. That for me, I’d be worried about that as an Arsenal fan.’

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