Arsenal legend backs ‘Ginger Mourinho’ as Arteta's replacement

As the pressure grows for Mikel Arteta, Ray Parlour has backed a surprising candidate to potentially succeed the Spaniard as Arsenal manager.

Ray Parlour would welcome Sean Dyche with open arms if the Burnley boss was to replace Mikel Arteta as Arsenal manager.

A nightmare opening day 2-0 defeat to Brentford last week in the Premier League has left Arteta in the spotlight once more. The old same problems again haunted Arsenal, leaving many fans, even those who backed the Spaniard last term, questioning his future at the Emirates.

But while the likelihood of Arteta leaving anytime soon is still low, Parlour has talked up Dyche’s credentials to become the next Gunners boss.

The 50-year-old, nicknamed as ‘Ginger Mourinho’ and ‘The Boring One’, has successfully coached Burnley in both the Championship and Premier League since October 2012.

“Why not? I don’t know if they will go down that road but if Arsenal said to me Sean Dyche was the next manager, then good,” Parlour said about Dyche replacing Arteta on talkSPORT.

“We’d get behind him and see how we do. How do we know until he gets an opportunity? I’m surprised that some clubs haven’t given him one and said, ‘let’s get Sean Dyche in’.”

The former Arsenal midfielder added: “We know what he’s done at Burnley is unbelievable. He does a great job every season.”

How has Dyche done at Burnley?

The ex-Watford coach replaced Eddie Howe almost nine years ago and has since guided Burnley back to the Premier League on two occasions. Since winning promotion in 2016, he has kept the club in the English top-flight each season.

Dyche has a record of 146 wins, 102 draws, and 144 defeats in 392 matches for Burnley across all competitions. He even led the Clarets to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League in 2017/18.

Dyche, whose contract at Turf Moor expires next summer, will take Burnley to Anfield on Saturday to face Liverpool.