Arteta responds to Ferdinand claim he'd ditch Arsenal for Man Utd

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 3 Mar 2024 09:13 GMT
• 4 min read

Mikel Arteta has delivered a clear response to Rio Ferdinand's claim that he would leave Arsenal if offered the Manchester United manager's job.

Arteta has steered Arsenal to third in the Premier League this season, five points behind leaders Liverpool having played a game less, and 14 clear of Man Utd, who are currently sixth.

Arteta's side led the league for much of last season before surrendering the title race to Manchester City, and the former Gunners midfielder now appears to have a team in his image.

READ MORE: Latest Arsenal transfer news

But Ferdinand, who won the Premier League six times as a United player, claimed Arteta would jump at the chance to move to Old Trafford.

"Arteta would leave Arsenal to come to Man United, 100 per cent," he told his FIVE podcast. "No-one is saying it's happening, but if Man United… say 'right, top of our list, Mikel Arteta,' Arteta is going in and saying, 'listen lads, it's been emotional, but I've got to move and got to go.'"

What did Arteta say?

Former Ferdinand teammate Robin van Persie was the last high-profile name to make the move from Arsenal to Man Utd, but seems that Arteta has no intention of following the former forward.

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"We normally highlight [opinions] not very positive," Arteta said pouring cold water on Ferdinand's claim. "We should highlight the times when they say great things, make great comments and great points.

"These are said in a really good way and with a vision of someone who has the experience. If we do this, it is much better. Sometimes, though, we focus too much on the negative views."

Arteta is set for a busy summer at the Emirates, with Jorginho and Thomas Partey among the likely departures, while a new No.9 is targeted.

Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney were previously understood to be at the top of the Gunners' shopping list, but if they prove to be prohibitively expensive, Viktor Gyokeres and Dusan Vlahovic could be alternatives.