Ciaran Morrison

Fri 10 April 2026 19:00, UK

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Arsenal are facing a higher level of pressure to win the Premier League title than any team in previous seasons.

That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider, who believes the Gunners face a “unique pressure” compared to their rivals.

Arsenal have not won a Premier League title since the Invincibles in 2003-04, and have come second in the past three campaigns under Mikel Arteta.

Pressure to win the title has been ramped up by a Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City, and a shock FA Cup exit to Championship side Southampton.

Arsenal face Bournemouth next in the Premier League, knowing that a win could put them 12 points ahead of second-placed Man City before Pep Guardiola’s side visit Chelsea a day later.

Arsenal stars ‘can’t turn anywhere’ as pressure increases

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – thinks winning the Premier League or the Champions League would be considered a “good season” for Arsenal.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness believes the run-in will prove whether Arteta’s squad have a strong mental edge needed to win major trophies.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “There’s a unique sort of Arsenal pressure, because they’ve been living with this sort of cloud over them for so long now of being the bridesmaid.

“Everybody always mentions that everything to do with Arsenal is, will they fall again? It’s something that they’ve had to live with that’s uniquely Arsenal. I don’t think Leicester had that pressure when they were going on to win the title that year. 

“Man City certainly wouldn’t have had it because they’ve done it. It’s this one sort of focus on Arsenal that they live with every single week in the media. And no doubt it’s telling. Look, there is pressure on them and it gets in their heads.

“They can’t turn anywhere. Social media, mainstream media, it’s there. It does get in their heads a little bit. I don’t think there’s much more that they can do in terms of, Arteta and the squad. They’ve just got to be mentally strong and get through this.

“If they did finish with one or even two trophies this season, they’re in the hunt for both and those are the big ones, then that’d be a good season.”

Gabriel Martinelli fighting for Arsenal future

Arsenal’s summer transfer plans are already in the pipeline, with Gabriel Martinelli understood to be one player who will be put up for sale.

Martinelli has contributed just one goal and three assists in the Premier League this season, and Arteta wants to upgrade his options on the left flank.

Sources have told Football Insider that Martinelli wants to remain at Arsenal, and the 24-year-old will fight for his place in Arteta’s long-term plans.

Whilst a deal for PSG star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia could be tough to achieve, the 25-year-old would add greater strength to Arteta’s forward line, if the club sanctioned the sale of Martinelli.