Man United’s Amorim or Arsenal’s Arteta ‘highly likely’ to be sacked by Christmas
Man United’s Ruben Amorim and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta are both thought to be in danger of losing their jobs next season.
After replacing predecessor Erik ten Hag last November, Amorim has failed to have a positive impact at Old Trafford, instead steering the North West giants to a dreadful 15th-place finish in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Arteta has guided Arsenal to three consecutive second-place spots, raising questions over whether he can steward the North Londoners towards the top-flight title after another season without a trophy.
Last season, the Gunners finished 10 points adrift of Premier League champions Liverpool, and must close that gap next term.
Amorim more likely to be sacked at Old Trafford – Danny Murphy
Amid Amorim and Arteta’s efforts to strengthen their respective squads, both Man United and Arsenal want Viktor Gyokeres.
The Sporting striker could either boost the Gunners’ title credentials, or revolutionise a previously misfiring Red Devils front line.
Whether the Swede ends up at either club they are both thought to need fast starts or else the managers could be gone by Christmas, with Amorim tipped as the more likely exit.
Meanwhile, speaking live on talkSPORT [18 June], Jim White asked Danny Murphy: “Which managers, Danny, need to hit the ground running from the off?”
The former Liverpool and Fulham player replied: “Amorim. I think the other one, and I really don’t think he should be, because he’s done a terrific job (is Arteta). If Arsenal start badly, there’s going to be some grumblings.”
White then informed Murphy that a texter had said that one of the pair will be gone by Christmas.
He replied: “I think that’s highly likely. I think it’d be more likely Amorim than Arteta to be honest.”
Arteta can save job by signing Gyokeres
Football Insider verdict
As alluded to by Murphy, Arteta will heap huge pressure on himself if Arsenal do not enjoy a strong start to the Premier League season.
The Gunners have not tasted silverware since winning the FA Cup in 2020, and supporters may grow impatient if the North London side fall short in yet another top-flight title race.
| Date | Opponent |
| 17/08 | Man United (A) |
| 23/08 | Leeds (H) |
| 30/08 | Liverpool (A) |
| 13/09 | Nottingham Forest (H) |
| 20/09 | Man City (H) |
Furthermore, Arteta’s men have been handed a difficult fixture list as they take on Man United, Liverpool, and Man City within their first five games of next season’s Premier League.
Meanwhile, the Gunners have lost ground to both Man City and Liverpool in recent years thanks to the fact that they do not boast an attacker among their ranks who can produce the same sort of numbers as either Erling Haaland or Mo Salah.
But if Arteta’s side can beat Man United to Gyokeres’ signature, the former Coventry City man could be a real difference maker after notching 54 goals in 52 appearances for Sporting last term.