DANNY MURPHY reckons Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez is ‘exactly’ what Arsenal need if they decide to axe Arsene Wenger.
Benitez got one over Wenger as the Toon heaped more misery on the Gunners with a convincing 2-1 win at St James’ Park on Sunday.
After another poor season, the Gunners are on course for their worst finish in the Premier League era, with the Frenchman’s position set to be reviewed this summer.
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And if Wenger goes, Murphy insists his old Liverpool manager who has worked wonders on Tyneside could be the man to get Arsenal back on track after years of decline.
He told talkSPORT: “He (Benitez) is exactly what Arsenal need.
“I heard Paul Merson talking on the Sports Breakfast, saying Arsenal fans want a certain style of play and want to see a team play expansive football.
“But they do that now and they get murdered.
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“I only worked with him (Benitez) briefly, but he was bang on it.
“He was all about ‘This is what we’re going to do and this is how we’re going to do it’.
“You know exactly what you’re doing.
“He is a calm manager but he’s very assertive.
“You wouldn’t want to cross him, he’s got a real ruthlessness about him.”
The Gunners are 13 points adrift of the top four with their only route into the Champions League next season is winning the Europa League.