They failed to listen to Sir Alex Ferguson and that’s why they’re suffering…They might be relagated soon”: Man United told they must appoints the Manager recommended by Sir Alex Ferguson if they really want to progress
For some time now, Mikel Arteta’s delayed success at Arsenal has offered a convenient defense for managers under pressure. Many would argue that, given enough time and resources, they too could transform a club’s fortunes, just as Arteta did at Arsenal.
There are undeniable parallels between the situation Arteta stepped into at Arsenal and what Erik ten Hag is dealing with at Manchester United. Both clubs are historic giants that had fallen into mediocrity, struggling with poor recruitment choices, overpaid yet underperforming players, and owners who seemed clueless about making sound footballing decisions.
When Arteta first took the helm at Arsenal, his initial full season ended with the team finishing eighth. In the following season, Arsenal improved slightly to finish fifth. By 2022—two and a half years into his tenure—Arteta had Arsenal competing head-to-head with Manchester City for the Premier League title.
The question now is whether Ten Hag can replicate that kind of transformation at Manchester United, after his own underwhelming eighth-place finish. With back-to-back defeats against Brighton and Liverpool, the criticism surrounding Ten Hag is growing louder, and he faces increasing pressure to prove his worth.
The doubts surrounding Erik ten Hag’s capabilities are not limited to outside observers. According to *The Guardian*, there are reportedly serious concerns about his tactics within Manchester United’s new football structure under the ownership of Ineos. While Ten Hag, formerly of Ajax, may have won more trophies in two years than Arteta has in almost five, Arsenal’s upward trajectory continues unabated, while the gap between the two clubs has only widened during Ten Hag’s reign.
Stan Collymore, a former England international, voiced his concerns bluntly in his *Caught Offside* column. “I don’t care what anyone says, Ten Hag is completely out of his depth,” Collymore wrote. He speculates that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Ineos group, who recently took ownership stakes in Manchester United, may have allowed Ten Hag to remain in charge because they looked at Arsenal’s patient approach with Arteta and believed that a similar process might work for United. However, Collymore insists, “Ten Hag is not Arteta.”
Collymore points out that while Arteta has only one FA Cup to his name, Arsenal’s progress under his leadership has been clear and steady. Season by season, Arsenal has grown stronger, and perhaps more importantly, they have rediscovered their identity. Arteta’s Arsenal plays an exciting, fast-paced, and free-flowing style of football that evokes memories of the club’s glory days.
Manchester United, historically, was also known for a thrilling brand of football—marked by electrifying, high-intensity play, and devastating counterattacks that tore through opposition defenses. However, Collymore argues that under Ten Hag, United is nowhere near rediscovering that identity. “At best, they are too passive, and at worst, they’re boring,” he asserts. Collymore concludes with a damning verdict: “He has got to go.”
In essence, while Arteta has managed to steer Arsenal toward constant improvement, Ten Hag is struggling to find similar success at Manchester United. The parallels between their situations are clear, but whether Ten Hag can follow in Arteta’s footsteps remains highly uncertain.The comparison between Mikel Arteta’s journey with Arsenal and Erik ten Hag’s current struggles with Manchester United is an intriguing one. Both managers faced similar challenges upon arrival: clubs in decline, bloated squads filled with underperforming, overpaid players, and a need for a clear footballing identity.
Arteta’s approach at Arsenal involved a meticulous rebuild. Initially, his results were inconsistent, finishing eighth in his first full season and improving to fifth in the next. However, he remained steadfast in his vision, focusing on instilling a distinct style of play—one that has drawn praise for its intensity, tactical flexibility, and attacking flair. Arteta’s patience and the backing from Arsenal’s hierarchy have been key to this progress. The Gunners went from being outside the top-four picture to competing at the top, suggesting that Arteta’s methodology could yield results when given time.
For Erik ten Hag, the situation is more complex. Although he has brought trophies to Manchester United in his early tenure, concerns linger about the team’s consistency, identity, and tactical approach, particularly under new ownership and leadership structures at the club. The report from *The Guardian* highlighting worries about Ten Hag’s tactics underlines the lack of cohesion within United’s hierarchy, which could affect his ability to implement a long-term strategy akin to Arteta’s.
Stan Collymore’s critique amplifies this uncertainty, suggesting that while Ten Hag may have the accolades, he lacks the clarity and effectiveness of Arteta’s rebuild. According to Collymore, United under Ten Hag has been uninspiring and devoid of the high-octane football the club is historically known for. His comparison reflects a broader sentiment among some pundits and fans who feel that the Dutch manager has yet to carve out a definitive style or direction for United.
The key takeaway from comparing these two situations is the recognition that while patience can lead to a successful rebuild—as seen with Arteta—it requires a combination of vision, clarity, support from the club’s hierarchy, and a consistent transfer strategy. Ten Hag has shown moments of promise, but to replicate Arteta’s transformation at Arsenal, he must demonstrate more tactical adaptability, stronger leadership, and a clear path toward restoring United’s footballing identity. The upcoming months will be crucial in determining whether Ten Hag can turn things around at Old Trafford or if, as Collymore suggests, his time is running out.
