Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim can follow Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal blueprint (Image: Getty)
Ruben Amorim has been told to follow Mikel Arteta’s lead by binning Manchester United’s dead wood. However, Arsenal icon Alan Smith warns that such a plan could lead to a ‘financial hit’ with underperforming flops boasting lengthy and lucrative contracts.
In his first two years at Arsenal, Arteta was ruthless in his cull of the club’s big-name stars. Out went the likes of Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette. They were replaced by younger players such as Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe.
Amorim could face a similar issue at United where he has several fringe and ageing stars on big-money contracts. The Portuguese head coach will need to overhaul his squad if he wants to reshape the Red Devils in his image – but INEOS could face financial hits if he chooses to do so.
“Arteta had a lot of pruning to do [when he joined Arsenal in 2019], to get players out that he didn’t want and it wasn’t always easy. The likes of Ozil and a lot of players,” Smith told Express Sport, via Ace Odds.
“I don’t know if it’s such a problem for Amorim, but there will be a bit of dead wood there that he doesn’t rate and of course these days it’s so hard getting rid of players that are on four-year contracts and fantastic money.
“Arsenal had to take a financial hit and I’m sure United would have to as well if they do want to get rid of some of those players that have come for big money. I wouldn’t say it’s exactly the same position as Arteta faced, it’s slightly different.
“He’ll be excited because as I said, he’s got quality players in there. He’ll want to make it his own team in the next few transfer windows like any manager does. In the short term, he’s got enough to work.”
Mikel Arteta binned several of Arsenal’s big-name players in his first few years (Image: Getty)
Amorim has finally taken charge of United after working his notice period at Sporting CP. He has met with some of his new players at the club’s Carrington training base this week, and will welcome a full squad following the international break.
His first game in charge comes against Ipswich on November 24.
It remains to be seen whether Amorim will choose to be active in the January transfer window. The 39-year-old could instead opt to continue until the end of the season with the players he has inherited from Erik ten Hag’s ill-fated reign.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1976480/ruben-amorim-mikel-arteta-man-utd-arsenal