Pundit claims former Arsenal boss ‘wouldn’t leave’ current role to become Man Utd manager

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Darren Bent has claimed that a former Arsenal boss would turn down the chance to become Manchester United manager if Erik ten Hag were axed from the club.

Ten Hag, who was hailed for his debut season at Old Trafford, is facing an uphill battle at United after the Red Devils’ disappointing start in the 2023-24 campaign.

United are eighth in the Premier League table after winning five and losing five of their first 10 league fixtures, with the club eight points adrift from the top four.

The Red Devils’ form has been up and down this season across all competitions, with United suffering a devastating 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.

Ten Hag has faced mounting pressure as a result of United’s form and even some pundits have already named a successor for him in the Old Trafford hot seat.

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Bent speaks out on Unai Emery

Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery has been hailed for his work at Aston Villa after replacing Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard at the Premier League club in 2022.

The 51-year-old steered Villa away from potential Premier League relegation last season and led them to a seventh-place finish, with Emery earning high praise.

Bent has now insisted that the likes of Emery and Newcastle manager Eddie Howe wouldn’t leave their respective clubs for United if Ten Hag were dismissed.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “He wouldn’t leave Aston Villa now. He wouldn’t.

“Not with that mess that’s going on [at Man United]. He’s not leaving. No chance. At the minute, he’s at a stable football club who are going in the right direction.

“I don’t know what’s going on at Man United. Listen, Man United are a bigger club, I have no doubts about that, but right now Aston Villa are in a more stable position and look better than Man United.

“Do you think Eddie Howe would leave Newcastle to go to Man United? Absolutely not.”

United don’t need Emery

Emery is not the answer to United’s problems right now, and the same can be said for a Premier League manager like Howe.

United don’t need a short-term bounce from appointing a new manager, but they need to back Ten Hag and build on the project that the Dutchman has outlined.

The Red Devils’ current woes are overshadowing what Ten Hag achieved last season, which included a major piece of silverware and a top-four finish.

If it’s not Emery or Howe, then it’s Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou whose name has been popping up by pundits as a successor for Ten Hag.

Ten Hag can — and must — turn the tide back in his favour and the United boss only needs a consistent run of results to enjoy some much-needed momentum.