Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny (left) vies with Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero during their English Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium in London on Monday. Aguero was returning from an injury layoff and his inclusion irked fellow striker Wilfried Bony. City lost the match 1-2.

Arsene Wenger has blasted speculation surrounding Louis van Gaal as disrespectful.

The Arsenal manager said yesterday he has "huge respect" for Van Gaal, his Manchester United counterpart, and the Dutchman's previous success.

And Wenger refused to answer questions about the future of Van Gaal amid speculation United could be lining up Jose Mourinho, sacked recently by Chelsea, as his replacement.

"I do not want to go into a world of speculation," said Wenger. "I personally have a huge respect for Louis van Gaal and I think what is going on there is disrespectful.

"This guy has worked for 30 years in football and has delivered unbelievable quality of work. I think it's a bit disrespectful what's going on.

"I think a lot has been made on that (Mourinho's departure), and I do not need to add anything. I do not want anyone to lose their job, my personal feelings on that front is that it is always sad when someone loses their job."

It is not just Van Gaal, but Manuel Pallegrini at Manchester City is rumored to be under threat, with Spaniard Pep Guardiola touted as a possible successor when he leaves Bayern Munich at the end of the season.

And while Wenger said he would welcome Guardiola in the Premier League, he said it was unfair for managers to announce in advance their future plans. "Yes, I'd welcome (him) to the competition," he said.

"Personally I don't like the fact that the managers come out so early for what they will do, because it's not necessarily good for their own team, nor for the speculation about the managers who are going through a little bit of a difficult patch."

Van Gaal finds himself in danger of being axed halfway through his three-year contract after United's miserable six-match winless run saw it suffer an embarrassing Champions League exit and slip out of the Premier League's top four.

In the aftermath of United's 1-2 home defeat to lowly Norwich City last Saturday, it was widely suggested van Gaal had two games to save his job.

Reports claimed a defeat against either Stoke City on Saturday or Chelsea at Old Trafford on Monday would prompt his dismissal.

But on Tuesday it appeared van Gaal might not even last that long after Twitter was deluged with talk that he had been sacked.

Those reports were given credence by news that United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward had travelled to London for a meeting with club officials. However, the Manchester Evening News later reported that Woodward had only been discussing commercial matters rather than settling van Gaal's future.

Van Gaal is unlikely to be especially encouraged by the revelation from Mourinho's agent that no deal has been agreed with United at present.

"There is nothing," Jorge Mendes was quoted as telling Globoesporte when asked about reports of Mourinho moving to United. "We don't know what will happen in the future, but now there is no agreement."

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