Troubled Arsenal said yesterday that their caretaker manager Stewart Houston had quit.

The premier league club immediately put former Northern Ireland star Pat Rice in charge for Monday's home game with leaders Sheffield Wednesday.

Houston took temporary charge for the second time in his Highbury career when Bruce Rioch was controversially sacked last month just five days before the start of the season.

Houston has been linked recently with a move to Leeds, where ex-Arsenal manager George Graham took charge on Tuesday, and Queens Park Rangers, who parted company with Ray Wilkins last week.