Ian Wright says Mikel Arteta would make Manchester United title contenders

United slumped to a second successive defeat on Wednesday night

Ian Wright believes Manchester United would be Premier League title contenders if Mikel Arteta was in charge.

United slumped to a second successive defeat on Wednesday night when they were beaten by Istanbul Basakhesir, to compound the Premier League defeat by Arsenal on the weekend.

Speaking on his Spotify podcast Wrighty’s House, the former Arsenal striker said the Gunners manager Arteta would get the best out of Ole Gunnar Solskajer’s players.

“Can I just say something, I’m just going to blast it in: If Arteta is managing Man United they are challenging,” said Wright. “Because, for me now I’ve got to the point where, when you look at the inconsistency of Man United with the components they have, the team that they have, what they should be doing – we’re talking about Pogba here, World Cup winner, you’ve got Tuanzebe who can’t even get on the pitch after marking two of arguably two of the most exciting and brilliant players in the world.

“He’s using two holding midfielders when if he’s playing Tuanzebe he doesn’t need that! And you’ve got a manager who, for me, is playing off of vibes, he’s managing off of pure vibes. Look at what Arteta has done in his time at Arsenal. We’re seeing coaching change, we’re seeing coaching on the field, we’re seeing impact. Look at Elneny, came out of the blue, found him and said ‘He can do this for me, he can do that for me’. He’s making the parts work.

“And looking at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who’s got a Man United team with this Telles – I think Telles looks like someone who could do something – Harry Maguire is starting to get back to what he can do, we know what Harry Maguire can do, with Tuanzebe next to him and Wan-Bissaka, and the goalkeeper is starting to find his form, they should be doing better than that. 

“What they did against Arsenal the other day, for me, for Man United, coming off the back of the two results, was embarrassing. Roy Keane was saying the players will get him the sack. It’s not just the players.”