Erik Ten Hag may be a perfect fit for Premier League giants Arsenal if Mikel Arteta cannot turn around the Gunners’ recent form, one-time Ajax manager Aad de Mos tells the Algemeen Dagblad.
Following Tuesday’s 4-2 Champions League victory over Sporting Lisbon, a debate emerged about whether we are currently looking at the greatest Ajax side ever to walk the earth.
It must be said though that, despite winning all six of their group-stage games and scoring a remarkable 20 goals along the way, Ajax have achieved nothing yet on the continent.
They are not on the verge of a final, like the team of Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt and Donny Van de Beek from 2019.
They haven’t won the thing either, like they did all the way back in 1995.
What cannot be disputed, however, is that Ten Hag has elevated the club’s current crop beyond all expectations, turning Sebastien Haller into a Champions League record-breaker, former Premier League men Dusan Tadic and Steven Berghuis into some of the tournaments most feared creators.
Ten Hag’s Ajax career has been one mind-bending achievement after the next.
And though the one-time Bayern Munich coach showed little interest in taking over at the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle recently, there will be plenty of offers on his table when the time for a new challenge does arrive.
Could Ten Hag replace Mikel Arteta at Arsenal?
“The DNA of Ajax must be in it,” said De Mos, who believes Ten Hag must take over a side with a tradition for playing fast-paced attacking football.
“I think Borussia Dortmund is the ideal option for him. They have young players and he can bring a few from Ajax. That would be ideal.
“If (Julian) Nagelsmann leaves, then it will be Bayern Munich. Xavi has only just joined FC Barcelona. Arsenal if (Mikel) Arteta does not do well. Then we are quickly out (of options).”
Arsenal would love nothing more than to join Ajax in the Champions League next season.
Three defeats in the last four games, against Everton, Manchester United and Liverpool, means Mikel Arteta’s oh-so inconsistent charges are now seventh in the table.
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