‘Mikel Arteta handed warning as Arsenal pressure grows’
Mikel Arteta has been warned to win something ‘rather significant’ with Arsenal this year or risk losing his job.
Arteta has been in charge of the Gunners since December 2019 and has helped re-establish the club as regular title contenders with three consecutive second-place finishes.
However, the fact remains that Arsenal still haven’t won the league since their 2003/04 invincible season, while Arteta has only delivered one FA Cup and two Community Shields during his time in charge.
One common flaw with his team has been a lack of goals compared to their direct rivals, with Arsenal being significantly outscored by the title winners in the last three seasons due to the lack of a natural and quality No.9.
Simon Jordan gives Arteta stark warning
Arsenal are going a long way toward remedying their goalscoring problems this summer with the impending big-money capture of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP.
The Sweden international will join the likes of Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard in what could be a revamped Gunners team geared toward title success.
According to former Crystal Palace chief Simon Jordan, Arteta simply must deliver a major trophy this season off the back of that spending or risk being ousted from the Emirates Stadium.
“Arteta has to win something this year,” Jordan told talkSPORT (22 July).
“I think there’s only so many times that you can keep on evolving to being a team that’s progressing, to eventually a team with potential, and somewhere along the line, the potential has to be realised.
“I thought Arsenal would win the league last year and the opportunity to win the league was there for them.
“Man City declined, and okay, Liverpool stepped up, but Arsenal didn’t.
“With that in mind, and given the fact Arteta has been backed, and he’s been backed extensively and repeatedly.
“If he gets the players he’s asking for this season, which he is getting in Zubimendi and the centre-forward, I think if he doesn’t win something rather significant, whether that’s a cup or the league, I think he’ll find himself in a situation where Arsenal will change.”
More spending = more pressure for Arteta
Arsenal’s summer spending may not be done even after Gyokeres arrives, with Eberechi Eze and Rodrygo continuing to be linked with the club.
However, this level of outlay undoubtedly piles the pressure on Arteta.
While Jordan thinks any major trophy will be enough to save him, football finance expert Stefan Borson believes only the Premier League title will be enough to keep the Spaniard in his job (22 July).
He told Football Insider: “The club is well run and financially is doing well.
“Now, clearly they have to take that next step and it’s going to be an expensive summer for them.
“They are also talking about Eze and there is some rumours still about Rodrygo from Real Madrid now.
“It’s going to be a very big summer.
“Then there’s the defender they’ve agreed to sign as well.
“It’s not a bet the ranch, but I think for Arteta if he was to sign four or five players and still didn’t win it, I think he would be under some pressure.”