‘Mikel Arteta to face Arsenal sack pressure after PSG defeat’
Mikel Arteta has been put under pressure over his future as Arsenal boss amid the threat of ending another season without a trophy.
It will be five years this summer since the former Gunners took charge at the Emirates Stadium, and after winning an FA Cup in his first season in charge, he is yet to deliver any more silverware.
Arteta has seen his side fall short domestically this season, losing to Liverpool in the Premier League title race, while also being knocked out of both the FA Cup and League Cup.
Even so, the North London side do still have some hope of claiming silverware in the coming weeks thanks to the Champions League.
Arsenal facing PSG test in trophy hunt
The Gunners have enjoyed a successful campaign in Europe so far this season, making it to the semi finals of the continent’s top competition.
On Wednesday (7 May), Arteta and his team will face French champions PSG in the second leg of their Champions League last four tie.
However, Arsenal will have to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg if they are to make it to the final, where they will face either Barcelona or Inter.
Stan Collymore though, believes that if the Gunners do not make it to that final at the end of this month, Arteta should be under pressure given it would represent another season without major progress.
| Arsenal last five games | Result |
| Real Madrid (A) | Won 2-1 |
| Ipswich (A) | Won 4-0 |
| Crystal Palace (H) | Drew 2-2 |
| PSG (H) | Lost 1-0 |
| Bournemouth (H) | Lost 2-1 |
Writing in his column for Caught Offside, the former Liverpool and Nottingham Forest striker said: “I think if Arsenal were to be knocked out, questions needs to start being asked of Arteta.
“When does a manager that has won only one FA Cup in six years start to come under pressure for his inability to win competitions[?]
“He can get a pass if they were to reach the Champions League final and lose to Barcelona or Inter Milan as it shows progress, but if they were to lose to PSG, and especially in a meek fashion, then there should be scrutiny.
“Transition period or not, one trophy in six years is simply not good enough for a club as ambitious as Arsenal.”
Mikel Arteta needs success quickly
Football Insider Verdict
These sort of questions are inevitably going to start to be asked about Arteta sooner rather than later if he does not get over the line to claim a trophy soon.
Arsenal have shown in the past few seasons that they can challenge the very top teams in England and Europe for silverware.
But unlike those rivals, they have not actually been able to claim a trophy since that FA Cup five years ago, which will be frustrating for a club with their size and history.
There have been suggestions Arteta will hide behind Arsenal’s injuries if they fail to win a trophy this season.
But with expectation growing he will not be able to do that forever as players return and the squad is strengthened in the transfer window.
Victory over PSG will therefore go some way to quietening the noise from elsewhere to show he is at least getting closer to winning another, long awaited, trophy.
Even so, an underwhelming 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth for Arsenal on Saturday (3 May) is unlikely to have done much for confidence at the club ahead of such a crucial game.