‘On the clock’ – Mikel Arteta faces serious questions over his future if Arsenal fail to win a trophy
Mikel Arteta must face questions over his future at Arsenal if they fail to win a trophy this season, insists Troy Deeney. The Gunners boss is into his fifth full season in charge at the Emirates Stadium. Arteta could be under pressure if Arsenal go trophyless again, says Deeney However, he has not won a trophy since lifting the FA Cup eight months after his appointment in December 2020. Instead, Arsenal have only won two Community Shields, following back-to-back second place finishes to Manchester City in the last two campaigns. As a result, Watford legend Deeney has now asked whether the Spaniard’s future could soon be in doubt. Speaking on Thursday night’s Kick Off, the former Premier League striker explained: “The biggest question, I think, this is the question that everyone wants to know, and you feel like you’re being unfair, but it is genuinely a question. “If Arsenal fail to win silverware this year, at what point are we allowed to ask the question of pressure? “And it feels really disingenuous because of the great work that Mikel Arteta has done closing the gap in the five-year period. At what point is he now coming under pressure?” Arteta’s side are already out of both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup this season, but remain in the Champions League. The Gunners sit second in the Premier League, seven points adrift of leaders Liverpool with 14 matches remaining. However, they are in the midst of a serious injury crisis which is threatening to derail their campaign. Kai Havertz is ruled out for the season, leaving Arteta without a recognised striker, while Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are also facing long-term spells on the sidelines. talkSPORTDeeney has noticed ‘grumblings’ amongst Arsenal supporters[/caption] The Gunners are already out of both domestic cups this seasonGetty Deeney continued: “I think there’s already grumblings within Arsenal fanbases as to whether he can [win the title]…” However, co-host Rory Jennings pointed out that the attitude is ‘different’ in the stadium. The former Watford striker agreed, adding: “Of course, but I’ve worked at Arsenal, what, eight times this season. “When it’s good, ‘We’re going to win the league’, it’s great. When they lose, ‘He doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing. The same subs, the same rotation.’ “I just think it’s a genuinely interesting question. I have no care either way if he’s in his job or not. I don’t know Mikel Arteta. I don’t wake up in the morning thinking about it personally. “But if it’s a case of, they are serious about winning, then he has to be on the clock. Because he set the precedent of five years. Remember, he set it for five years. Arteta has not won a major trophy since the FA Cup in 2020Getty 1: Premier League Fixtures & Results “So if you set the framework at that, Man City have been great over the other couple of years, nobody’s seen Liverpool come in and win it, and you’ve now fallen even further behind, I think then the question is fairly allowed to be asked.” The Gunners will re-enter the Champions League in next month’s round of 16 after finishing in the top eight of the league phase. Meanwhile, they face the challenge of overhauling Liverpool in the league to win a first title for 21 years this season. As for Arteta, he currently has two years remaining on his contract, which is set to expire in the summer of 2027.
Mikel Arteta must face questions over his future at Arsenal if they fail to win a trophy this season, insists Troy Deeney.
The Gunners boss is into his fifth full season in charge at the Emirates Stadium.
However, he has not won a trophy since lifting the FA Cup eight months after his appointment in December 2020.
Instead, Arsenal have only won two Community Shields, following back-to-back second place finishes to Manchester City in the last two campaigns.
As a result, Watford legend Deeney has now asked whether the Spaniard’s future could soon be in doubt.
Speaking on Thursday night’s Kick Off, the former Premier League striker explained: “The biggest question, I think, this is the question that everyone wants to know, and you feel like you’re being unfair, but it is genuinely a question.
“If Arsenal fail to win silverware this year, at what point are we allowed to ask the question of pressure?
“And it feels really disingenuous because of the great work that Mikel Arteta has done closing the gap in the five-year period. At what point is he now coming under pressure?”
Arteta’s side are already out of both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup this season, but remain in the Champions League.
The Gunners sit second in the Premier League, seven points adrift of leaders Liverpool with 14 matches remaining.
However, they are in the midst of a serious injury crisis which is threatening to derail their campaign.
Kai Havertz is ruled out for the season, leaving Arteta without a recognised striker, while Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are also facing long-term spells on the sidelines.
Deeney continued: “I think there’s already grumblings within Arsenal fanbases as to whether he can [win the title]…”
However, co-host Rory Jennings pointed out that the attitude is ‘different’ in the stadium.
The former Watford striker agreed, adding: “Of course, but I’ve worked at Arsenal, what, eight times this season.
“When it’s good, ‘We’re going to win the league’, it’s great. When they lose, ‘He doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing. The same subs, the same rotation.’
“I just think it’s a genuinely interesting question. I have no care either way if he’s in his job or not. I don’t know Mikel Arteta. I don’t wake up in the morning thinking about it personally.
“But if it’s a case of, they are serious about winning, then he has to be on the clock. Because he set the precedent of five years. Remember, he set it for five years.
“So if you set the framework at that, Man City have been great over the other couple of years, nobody’s seen Liverpool come in and win it, and you’ve now fallen even further behind, I think then the question is fairly allowed to be asked.”
The Gunners will re-enter the Champions League in next month’s round of 16 after finishing in the top eight of the league phase.
Meanwhile, they face the challenge of overhauling Liverpool in the league to win a first title for 21 years this season.
As for Arteta, he currently has two years remaining on his contract, which is set to expire in the summer of 2027.
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