Chris Waddle: Chris Wilder is exactly the type of manager Arsenal need

Don’t expect to hear Chris Wilder’s name mentioned often as the race to succeed Unai Emery as manager of Arsenal heats up, but he’s arguably exactly the type of man they need in charge.

He has done an unbelievable job at Sheffield United and deserves to be linked with the big jobs.

I’d love to see him get a chance at the Emirates and there’s no doubt in my mind that he could do a really good job there.

He would realise what is wrong, although that’s hardly rocket science. Arsenal are great in attack and creative in midfield but defensively they are an absolute shambles and everyone knows it. Until they sort that out, Arsenal will not be getting anywhere near the top four.

What they need is a manager to go in there and sort out the personalities in the dressing room and get some shape and organisation instilled, and Wilder could easily be that man.

He’d identify the problems straight away because he’s astute. And with a decent budget he could get in the right players because he knows what the right player looks like. And I’m sure he’s got the man-management skills to be able to deal with the big-name stars who have simply shrugged their shoulders too often over the past couple of years.

My one concern would be how those players would react to him because it’s a powerful dressing room.

If Carlo Ancelotti walked in there and told a player he’s got to buck up his ideas or he’s out the door he’d get a reaction because Ancelotti, like Jose Mourinho, is a winner and commands enormous respect.

I’m not sure Chris would necessarily get that at first and while there’s a clamour for a big-name coach there the chances are he will be overlooked.

That’s a shame for Chris, but great news for Sheffield United.

I have no doubt there’s a big job with his name on it and I also have no doubt that he could do it because he’s got a fabulous football brain.

He’d be an ideal fit at somewhere like Everton, where I think he would win over the fans and get them going again.

Manchester United could spring a surprise at noisy neighbours City

There won’t be many punters giving Manchester United a chance at City in the derby but I won’t be surprised if they get something from the game.

If the last week has told us anything it’s that United have to go to the Etihad and play at the right tempo.

I have seen United twice this week, in their 2-2 draw against Villa and 2-1 win over Spurs, and they were chalk-and-cheese performances.

United were awful against Villa on Sunday and lucky to get a draw. There was no tempo to the game, they found it hard to break down Villa – and Villa in no way parked the bus – and they would have been delighted with the point.

Three days later they were outstanding against Tottenham, blasted out the blocks, got stuck in, called all the shots and were worthy winners.

Those performances demonstrate to me that United do better against the better teams – with no disrespect to Villa. And that’s probably because most of the big teams think they are there for the taking because this isn’t a great United side at the moment. Those opponents get complacent and United raise their game.

Fred and Scott McTominay were outstanding against Tottenham, Marcus Rashford was a constant handful and his confidence is clearly back. Danny James gave them width and pace while Mason Greenwood produced a performance which showed he has an old head on young shoulders.

Notionally a number nine, he was often dropping into the ten role and pulling defenders around. It was clever stuff from a bright talent and if he and his teammates can reproduce that at City, they have got a chance.

Liverpool aren't home and hosed just yet

Let’s not crown Liverpool Premier League champions just yet.

We’ve seen teams slip up before and it’s usually over the winter when the problems start.

Liverpool haven’t had a blip, but it will come because every team has one. How are they going to deal with that?

They also have a hefty fixture list and have had few injuries so far.

Jurgen Klopp has got a great squad and has always insisted he can cope with injuries but one player they can ill-afford to be without for any length of time is Sadio Mane.

Forget Mo Salah or Roberto Firmino, this is the guy who makes Liverpool tick as an attacking force.

I love what Firmino does and Salah’s scoring record speaks for itself. But Liverpool have coped without them before. Without Mane it might well be a different matter.

He was electric against Everton and has been ever since he moved to Anfield from Southampton.

He can play left, right or centre-forward, dribbling-wise he can go either way, he scores goals and makes goals. I’ve always said Salah used to often get the lucky bounces go his way and I know you make your own luck. But to me Mane is the one that Liverpool cannot do without.

If they lost Mane for any length of time that gap to the rest would soon narrow.

Red Devils should stand by their man

You could see the relief with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the end of Manchester United’s win over Tottenham on Wednesday – and now’s the time for United’s board to stand by their manager.

The clamour for a change is pretty much constant at Old Trafford and the pressure on Solskjaer is relentless.

But I’m actually really impressed with what Solskjaer is doing at the club and would say they should give him more time.

This is a project and this season is going to be full of ups and downs with some unbelievably good performances and some terrible ones. They are going to be inconsistent but that’s because he’s trying to bring through a lot of young players who need to be given time to develop.

Bring a new manager in and give him three, four or five hundred million to spend and that good work would be buried. And if that doesn’t work, another manager would come in and be presented with similar amounts to spend and all these talented kids will be nowhere.

That is not the way to go. I say stick by Ole, let him sell Pogba and bring in players where he needs them – another midfielder, someone to partner Harry Maguire, a top-class number nine. But let Solskjaer do it because by this time next year you’ll see his plans bear fruit.

The board just need to hold their nerve – but that could be the issue.

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