The pressure starts to mount on the shoulders of Mikel Arteta with Arsenal now from the Champions League -and three ex -Gunners -stars have had their say about the uncertainty
The future of Mikel Arteta in Arsenal was examined for the first time after the sore Champions League exit of the club by PSG.
The defeat, which means that the Gunners have now gone for five seasons without a trophy, has argued the debate about whether the 43-year-old remains the right man to lead them ahead. But in the midst of all the speculation and chatter, it is worth mentioning that three former Arsenal players have publicly supported Arteta, insisting that he deserves to stay and continue the project that he has continued in the Emirates Stadium.
In January, Alan Smith said that missing the Premier League title would be “a bitter blow” this season, but Arteta and his team tipped to bounce back and achieve “great things”.
“The team is still young and learns all the time of victories and errors. It is a process,” said the Arsenal icon icon at Bonus Code bets. “Of course the team needs reinforcements – there is always room to refresh things. But the core of this team can still achieve great things.
“I don't think the task of Arteta is in danger,” he added. “The owners will not make a decision of the knee. Yes, there is dissatisfaction with some fans, but it is unlikely that the club will respond hastily.”
Similarly, Jeremie Aliadiere said that he believed that Arteta was the man who led Arsenal to glory and encouraged the Spaniard to “ignore social media”. In March, the Daily Express spoke in March: “Arteta is the most important that Arsenal leads ahead.
“You look at what he has changed in the club, the positivity, the fan base is more involved. The recruitment has been very good. Arsenal is a challenge for all the great honor. Arsenal has been so close, but it is about the line that matters and Mikel can do this.”
Responding to Arsenal's semi-final first leg defeat against PSG last month, ex-gunners keeper and invincibles star Jens Lehmann to the critics of Arteta but admitted that he “had to win next year”.
“You have to give him a lot of praise,” Lehmann told Talksport. “He pulled himself out, he changed the team and now he made them very stable and stable at the top, which is fantastic for the current owner because he generates the money.
'But it is clear that he has to win next year. This year they could have won [the Premier League]Manchester City dropped a bit, Liverpool replaced them.
“He has to win next year, but he probably has to change his personality a little to win things. Because it is sometimes [about] control and be careful. But if you want to win some things, in my opinion you could be a little risky. “
In five and a half years the lead at Arsenal, Arteta only succeeded in lifting the FA Cup-one triumph that came only a few months after his appointment in December 2019. Since then he has transformed the club into a formidable domestic and European force, but large silverware continues to avoid him.
This season's Champions League campaign represented the best run of Arsenal in the competition since 2009. A thunderous 5-1 total victory over Real Madrid in the quarterfinals led to genuine hope to finally realize the Champions League dream of the club.
However, those dreams were brought into the semi-final, where PSG surpassed the Gunners to achieve a 3-1 aggregated victory and a place in the final in the Allianz Arena against Inter Milan.
As the summer approaches, the focus will inevitably return to the Premier League, where Arsenal wants to end again to end their 20-plus year for a title. After completing the second place to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in back-to-back seasons, the 2024/25 campaign felt their best chance so far with City that showed non-characteristic inconsistency.
Injuries have certainly played a role in derailing the momentum of Arsenal, but their constant restraint to signing a proven striker remains an important talk point. She may eventually cost that decision at crucial moments, with reports that suggest that a new attacker will arrive before next season, the team can be set for a timely boost in their pursuit of large awards.
With a greater firepower, however, there is an increased expectation. And if Arteta continues to fall short if it matters the most, the goodwill he currently likes – even from Arsenal -alumni – can take.