Rio Ferdinand still believes Manchester United have serious pulling power, even if they’ve fallen on hard times lately.
So much so that the Red Devils great claimed ‘every’ manager would take the United job over Arsenal.
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However, there’s just three exceptions to the rule.
Ferdinand discussed the matter on his YouTube channel amid claims from some sections of Arsenal’s fan base that Mikel Arteta must go if the Gunners fail to win any silverware this season.
Arsenal remain in pole position to snap their 22-year Premier League drought and are into the Champions League semi-finals.
However, the Premier League title is far from wrapped up given Arsenal play City, who are six points behind with a game in hand, on Sunday.
Grass isn’t always greener
“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.
“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?”
One name who could feature among the contenders if Arsenal make the bold call to axe Arteta is Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique, whose contract with the French giants expires in June 2027.
Who did Ferdinand say would take the Arsenal job over Manchester United?
But Ferdinand was quick to shoot down any such talk and revealed the only managers who would take on the Arsenal job ahead of the United one.
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“He [Luis Enrique] is not coming to Arsenal,” Ferdinand said.
“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.”
Cesc bomb
Of the trio mentioned by Ferdinand, only Fabregas stands a realistic chance of ever being offered the chance to become Arsenal manager.
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Although Henry and Vieira embarked on managerial journeys of their own, neither has enjoyed success.
However, Fabregas has steadily built a reputation as one of the top managerial prospects thanks to impressive work at Serie A side Como.
Despite Como being bankrolled by Indonesian billionaires, Fabregas has shown the tactical acumen necessary to unsettle Italian football’s big boys as he has his side sitting fifth in Serie A and only two points away from a Champions League spot.
Fabregas steered Como to a 10th-place finish last term in what was his maiden campaign as the club’s manager.
And if the former Gunners midfielder can continue attracting admirers with impressive results for Como, it seems to be only a matter of time before a bigger fish swoops in to secure his services.
