Manchester United must allow Erik Ten Hag chance to repeat Arsenal Premier League trick

It wasn't supposed to be this way.

Manchester United had seemingly developed in Erik ten Hag's first season, winning a trophy and returning to the Champions League.

Yet fast-forward a few months and the Reds are closer to the bottom than the top of the Premier League table and already face a battle to earn a top four finish. They can't score goals, can't keep clean sheets and even their impressive Old Trafford record under the Dutchman has been wrecked in the last week.

Modern football almost dictates a knee-jerk reaction and a demand for instant improvements and alterations. Certainly there is plenty to correct at United but patience not panic must be the watchword.

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Ten Hag was identified as the man to consistently bring results and then trophies to Old Trafford and, given he has had such a stark say in recruitment since arriving in Manchester, the Dutchman must be given time. He worked wonders at Ajax and while there is no guarantee of sustained success with the Reds, he must be given the time to improve and imprint his methodology.

Sir Alex Ferguson is an obvious example of the benefits of that approach and present-day Arsenal offer similar comparisons. Mikel Arteta has turned them into a domestic force capable of challenging Manchester City while they are back at Europe's top table having got their recruitment right in recent windows.

But it was a rocky start for the Spaniard at the Emirates. Like Ten Hag, he lifted a domestic cup in his debut season but the following campaign saw a pedestrian start to the Premier League which left them