Arguably for the first time in his Arsenal career, Mikel Arteta is feeling the pressure.
Three weeks ago, the Gunners were hoping to win the famous quadruple. However, they lost against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, went out of the FA Cup at the hands of Championship side Southampton and are now running in the Premier League.
The north Londoners are top of the league and have a nine-point advantage ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Chelsea, but Arsenal’s poor performance against Bournemouth in the context of their last two defeats has raised alarm.
The 2-1 defeat to the Cherries on Saturday didn’t kill them, but if Man City continue their good form and beat Arsenal next Sunday, it could.
The reality is that it is no longer in Arsenal’s hands. If Pep Guardiola’s side win all their remaining games, they will lift the title. After that it put a lot of pressure on Arteta.
What happened to Arteta at Arsenal?
When Arteta first arrived at Arsenal at the end of 2019, the Spaniard didn’t have things his own way. This is not the first time he has faced pressure from fans at the Emirates Stadium.
In his first full campaign in charge, he guided the Londoners to an eighth-place finish. Stan Kroenke and Co. could have pulled the plug on the project earlier. However, they have kept the faith and in the last three seasons, the Gunners have finished second in the Premier League.
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Arsenal’s historic league locations |
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The season |
Elimination of the league |
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2018/19 |
5 of |
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2019/20 |
8th |
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2020/21 |
8th |
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2021/22 |
5 of |
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2022/23 |
Second time |
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2023/24 |
Second time |
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2024/25 |
Second time |
However, patience is starting to wear thin. It is of great concern to Arteta that, with his side sitting top of the Premier League and with a real chance of playing in the semi-finals of the Champions League, the fans are still going full blast on Saturday.
“Bring your lunch, bring your dinner”, was the cry from the Spaniard before this weekend’s defeat, a phrase that now looks like an insult.
Supporters took Arteta’s admonition but the performance on the pitch did not inspire confidence. The players did not bring their lunch, they did not bring their dinner. They did not bring their boots. It was an unknown game.
But why does patience wane? Well, football is not good enough. In fact, it didn’t last a whole season. However, with Arsenal always winning, it didn’t matter. Not many will care if the Premier League title comes in May.
Well, this is Arsenal Football Club. A team known for playing an exciting brand of football. It’s been anything but Arteta this season.
Although he has rightly placed control and solidity at the back, this has come at the expense of freedom and creativity in the final third. Many have lamented Arsenal as set-piece sellers this term and will say the same after Saturday’s loss.
Against Andoni Iraola’s men, they registered an expected goals from open play (xG) ratio of just 0.18. They looked like a team that deserved to be on the road, not one at the bottom of the league.
So, should Andrea Berta and KSE pull the plug, who could replace Arteta?
Key people to replace Mikel Arteta at Arsenal
If there was ever a good time to finish Spanish, it would be this summer. Things are ready to please the management and Manchester United as they are looking for a new coach permanently and Liverpool may also give Arne Slot the boot.
In the Premier League, Marco Silva, Oliver Glasner and the aforementioned Iraola are all out of contract, while Julian Nagelsmann and Mauricio Pochettino could be available after the World Cup.
Elsewhere, Xabi Alonso is widely admired after being sacked by Real Madrid earlier this season. Invincible with Bayer Leverkusen, there would probably be something romantic about him managing another team to win the league and not lose.
However, who else could they visit? Yes, a certain Cesc Fabregas would no doubt be a lovely pick. Having played 303 games for Arsenal before leaving under controversial circumstances to join Barcelona, then Chelsea, some at the Emirates Stadium do not respect the Spanish midfielder.
However, there is no escaping how impressive he was during the infancy of his managerial career with Como in Italy.
Fabregas has been heralded as “football’s next manager” by respected figures in the game and it’s no surprise. At Como, he knocked them out of Serie B last term, winning promotion to Serie A.
Are they sinking or swimming at the top table of Italian football? They really swam. Fabregas’ side are fifth in the division and two points behind Juventus in the Champions League race. Even with the game in hand.
So, what makes the former Arsenal man so special as a manager? Hailed as “one of the most impressive coaches in the world” by Como scout Ben Mattinson, he usually favors a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Prioritizing a possession-based system, Fabregas’ Como side attack and penetrate. That last word should be music to the ears of Arsenal fans who want more in the final third from their side.
Indeed, statistically, Como ranks among the best in the league in possession, improved rotation, and pressure. It’s no wonder they’re sitting so high in Serie A right now.
Having played under both Arsene Wenger and Guardiola, it will come as no surprise that he has been influenced by both. Speaking in the coach’s voice, Fabregas once said: “My concern is to play forward, as a midfielder, this is what I always liked, because I like to attack and I like to have the ball in the final third, where you win games.”
That sounds like the opposite of Arteta right now. He is passionate about control, and the ball is a little dangerous in the final third. If Arsenal can get their hands on one of their former midfielders in Cesc, that could change everything.
Arteta must drop the 4/10 Arsenal star who looked like a new Ozil vs Bournemouth
It was not a happy return to Premier League action for league leaders Arsenal.
