Mikel Arteta would leave Arsenal to come to Manchester United: Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand has made a bizarre claim that Mikel Arteta would leave Arsenal to join Manchester United if the club decides to part ways with Erik ten Hag.

Arteta has made Arsenal title contenders over the past few seasons while United have struggled to get any rhythm under Ten Hag in the ongoing campaign. The Dutch tactician’s future at the club has been under scrutiny and with INEOS’ takeover now completed, many feel Ten Hag will be let go in the summer.

Ferdinand feels that Arteta could then leave the Gunners to join United if he is at the top of the list of targets for the Red Devils.

“Arteta would leave Arsenal to come to Man United, 100 per cent,” he said on FIVE. “No-one is saying it’s happening, but if Man United, in their wildest dreams, 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 Man United say ‘right, top of our list, Mikel Arteta’, Arteta is going in [to Arsenal] and saying ‘listen lads, it’s been emotional, but I’ve got to move and got to go’.”

Mikel Arteta happy with stay at Arsenal

Despite the latest statement from Ferdinand, Arteta is seemingly happy with his stay in Arsenal. After Xavi announced his decision to leave Barcelona at the end of the season, the Spaniard emerged as a contender for the job.

Spanish media reports stated that Arteta had told his entourage he wanted the move. The Arsenal boss would slam these statements later on, calling them false and said he was happy with the Arsenal journey.

“No. That’s totally fake news. I don’t know where it is coming from, it’s totally untrue and I’m very upset about it,” said Arteta, as quoted by Sky Sports.

“I could not believe it. It has no sources. You have to be cautious when you write things in the way it was yesterday.”

Arsenal are currently third on the Premier League points table with 58 from 26 matches. The Gunners are just two points behind Liverpool in first and one behind Manchester City in second.