‘Come on’: Charlie Nicholas doesn’t want 66-year-old manager to replace Arteta at Arsenal

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Charlie Nicholas has laughed off suggestions that Sam Allardyce could be Arsenal’s next manager on the Where’s Jeff podcast.

Allardyce to Arsenal?

Arsenal’s poor start to the season has seen Mikel Arteta come under increased pressure at the Emirates Stadium.

Many fans have called for Arteta to be axed, but there seems to be a lack of obvious viable candidates to replace him.

This week there was a suggestion on TalkSPORT by Tony Cascarino that Sam Allardyce would do a much better job than Arteta with the North London club.

But Nicholas has suggested that the idea of appointing the 66-year-old is not one which appeals to him.

“I don’t know if you heard, but over the weekend the chat was Sam Allardyce for Arsenal,” Phil Thompson said to the Arsenal legend.

“I know we’re bad but come on,” the Arsenal legend laughed in response.

But Thompson insisisted: “The chat was on TalkSPORT to be honest. I’m serious, I’m asking the question.”

“Speaking with Arsenal fans they are pretty angry, upset and despondent about the ownership but the frustration will come Arteta’s way because the choices he made at Manchester City were pretty awful, with Kolasinac and Chambers,” Nicholas then said.

What about Conte?

Allardyce does appear to be an extremely unlikely candidate to get the Arsenal job if Arteta does leave.

The initial links have seen him tipped to go for Antonio Conte (ESPN).

Conte would obviously bring more experience than Arteta and could be an appealing choice, but there would also be question marks over his suitability for the role at Arsenal.

The Gunners have built a young squad, with Conte typically preferring to work with more battle-hardened players.

If Arteta is to keep his job at Arsenal, he will need a dramatic turnaround sooner rather than later.

The Gunners are next in action against Norwich City, and if they are beaten, it may well spell disaster for the Spaniard.