Jeff Stelling calls out Rio Ferdinand for 'nonsense' claim about Arsenal and Mikel Arteta

Jeff Stelling has called out Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand for making a 'nonsense' claim about Arsenal and their manager Mikel Arteta.

Ferdinand was speaking on his YouTube channel, 'Vibe with FIVE', following United's 2-1 defeat to Fulham at Old Trafford on Saturday.

On the future of manager Erik ten Hag, he commented: "Arteta would leave Arsenal to join Man United, 100 per cent.

"No-one is saying it's happening, but if Man United in a wild dream said, 'Do you know what, Erik ten Hag, thank you', or Erik ten Hag has been poached by Bayern Munich and he goes there, and then Man United say top of the list is Arteta.

"Arteta is [then] going in and saying to the lads, 'Listen guys, it's been emotional but I've got to move, I've got to go'."

Ferdinand received mass criticism from Arsenal fans for his comments, with various question marks over why Arteta would decide to leave Arsenal to join bitter rivals United.

And reacting to Ferdinand's remarks on talkSPORT, Stelling was equally bemused.

He said: "Rio Ferdinand said Mikel Arteta would '100 per cent' go to Old Trafford and become Manchester United boss if he was offered.

"Now, Rio was speaking - surprise, surprise - on his YouTube channel. I think that's known as clickbait, Rio. We're not as daft as we look, pal.

"Talk about nonsense! We're gullible, but we're not that gullible."

The Gunners are currently two points off the top of the Premier League table, having won all five of their most recent Premier League games.

They are also in the last 16 of the Champions League, although will need to overturn a 1-0 deficit to PSG in the second leg at the Emirates Stadium if they are to progress further.

United, meanwhile, are no longer in European competition after being knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage - and face an uphill battle to qualify for the top 10 places.