Arsenal should target Everton boss Ronald Koeman, says Charlie Nicholas

Arsenal should appoint Ronald Koeman as Arsene Wenger's successor at the Emirates, according to Charlie Nicholas.

Koeman has impressed since taking charge of Everton in the summer and has successfully guided the Toffees to second in the Premier League table, with three wins and a draw from their opening four matches.

Everton could go top of the league if they beat Middlesbrough on Saturday and Nicholas believes the Dutchman has all the qualities to take over from Wenger when the Frenchman decides to step down from his role with the Gunners.

"There's a shrewdness about Koeman - he doesn't complicate himself. Once he's made his decision it's all in. I just love his whole approach," Nicholas said.

"I've said it before - if I was Arsenal and [Arsene] Wenger is ready to go, he would be the number one target for me."

Everton head into their match against Boro on the back of an impressive 3-0 win over Sunderland on Monday.

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Romelu Lukaku scored an 11-minute hat-trick against the Black Cats and Nicholas says the Toffees could challenge for the Champions League places come the end of the season.

"I don't think they are title contenders but I've been very impressed. It was a team, when Koeman took over, that I thought could threaten the top four - if he was given a bit of financial muscle," he said.

"They talked in the summer about investors and how determined they seemed to be give more financial input.

"I spoke to a couple of people in Everton's hierarchy in the summer and they very, very positive about the way that Koeman was expressive about where he sees the future with them and how determined he was to do it quite quickly.

"There's still a bit of work to be done but the signs are promising."