Mikel Arteta offers Erik ten Hag sack verdict with clear message to Manchester United boardroom

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes his opposite number Erik ten Hag deserves more time to demonstrate his capabilities at Old Trafford.

In the run-up to Sunday's face-off, which falls on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season, Manchester United face a battle for European qualification following their 4-0 upset by Crystal Palace on Monday night.

As a result, Ten Hag's position has seen increasing demand for scrutiny; however, Arteta insists the Dutch manager should be granted leeway. "I can only talk about what I think about him as a coach," he said. "He's an excellent coach. I admire his teams, both Ajax and United.

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"I know what he's trying to do, I know how he does it, I know how difficult it is to prepare against him, so I have huge respect for him.

"Hopefully, yes, he gets the time because we are colleagues and we know how difficult it is in this league and what the margins are and yeah, hopefully that's the case because I think he is an excellent coach."

Arteta ended by commenting on the necessity of aggressive play in these major matches, stating: "If you want to win the Premier League and big trophies, you have to go to these grounds and impose yourself and beat them. That's the journey we are on and that's for sure what we are going to try to do on Sunday."

Arteta's title challengers need a win to return to the top of the Premier League and keep the pressure on Manchester City, who play their game in hand on Tuesday night away at Tottenham Hotspur. But even if City win a