Mikel Arteta future: Arsenal sack verdict delivered as Spaniard risks Arsene Wenger-esque "collapse"

Arteta's Arsenal have experienced nothing short of a nightmarish week, seeing their hopes of domestic cup glory all but evaporate thanks to consecutive home losses to Newcastle United and Manchester United in the EFL Cup and FA Cup respectively.

The Gunners will need to pull off an astounding EFL Cup comeback at St James' Park after their 2-0 semi-final first-leg loss, and they were punished for their attacking shortcomings in the FA Cup as 10-man Man United dumped Arteta's men out on penalties in the third round.

There is nothing whatsoever to suggest that Arteta's job is under threat, especially as he extended his contract until 2027 in September, but social media has been awash with an increased number of posts calling for the manager to go.

Asked by Sports Mole if the anti-Arteta sentiment was justified, Watts said: "In my opinion, no, but I can understand why it is. Football's very reactionary, isn't it? When you lose two massive games like that, you're out of one competition, you're teetering on the brink of the other. You're going to come under fierce criticism, especially the way your games unfolded.

"It harks back to former days as well. We always used to have this during the latter half of the Arsene Wenger era, where their season seemed to collapse in a two-week period, where they exit all competitions at the same time.

'Arteta is not stupid, he wants trophies'

"There's going to be lots of scrutiny on his position. He's done amazing - I think it's important that things are put into perspective. Arsenal are second in the Premier League, third in the Champions League. Three years ago, Arsenal would have killed to be in that position.

"They are now, and that's down to the work that has been done by Arteta in turning this club around. Yes, you can't keep relying on that, you've got to have trophies to back it up, because if you don't, then these questions that are now being asked are going to continue to be asked.

"And he knows that. He's not stupid. He will know how damaging this week has been, and he'll be feeling it just as much as everyone else. He wants trophies. He knows the time is now for this club and this team to win silverware. And with each opportunity that passes him by, the more that spotlight is going to shine on him."

Since replacing the doomed Unai Emery in 2019, Arteta has overseen a major transformation in both the club's on-field performances and off-field culture, masterminding their rise from mid-table strugglers to genuine title contenders.

However, he only has one FA Cup and two Community Shields to show for his time at the helm, and the Gunners began the Premier League gameweek six points behind leaders Liverpool, who will still have a game in hand on the North London giants by the close of play on Wednesday.

"Far too early" for Arteta out talk

Much of the criticism levied at Arteta has centred on his and the board's failure to sign a striker in the summer, especially now that Gabriel Jesus has suffered a season-ending ACL injury, which Watts believes is fair but should not develop into sack talk.

"I can understand why the reaction has been the way it has, in a way," Watts added. "Large swathes of the fan base will keep pointing to the fact that this has happened because of Arsenal's decision not to act in the summer to improve an area of the squad which pretty much all of us could see needed improving.

"The way both those games unfolded with so many missed chances, I think this adds in to where this all comes back to the decisions the club's made. And ultimately, who's to blame for that? Arteta, the board.

"I think there's a line. Certainly about players anyway, that line has been very badly crossed at times in the last few days in terms of reaction to what happened. But in terms of Arteta, I understand why the spotlight is there. But I still think it's far too early for scrutiny over his job to really heat up the way it has."

This time last year, Arsenal were soaking up the winter sun in Dubai during a warm-weather training camp, visits that have been credited with rejuvenating a stalling season, and they proceeded to win 16 of their 18 final Premier League games of 2023-24.

That barnstorming run was still not enough to overhaul Manchester City at the Premier League summit, though, and the Gunners have not yet had the luxury of jetting off to the Middle East this season due to an already jam-packed calendar becoming all the more hectic.

"Survival of the fittest" in Premier League title race

Injuries have also been rearing their ugly heads for Arsenal, who are also missing Riccardo Calafiori (muscle), Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Ethan Nwaneri (muscle), Ben White (knee) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), leaving them down to the bare bones on the right flank.

With a reduced set of options and a recent lack of ruthlessness up top, Watts cannot envisage Arsenal going 16 for 18 again in the second half of this season, and the race for glory could follow the "survival of the fittest" hypothesis.

"The issue here is that from this point onwards, last season, Arsenal went on that unbelievable run where they won 16 of 18 games," he added. "And you look at this squad, the injuries that they have and the players who are available now, you just cannot see that happening.

"You can't see them replicating that sort of run this time around, there's no form to suggest that's going to happen. You're missing Saka, you're now missing Jesus, you're missing Nwaneri, your forward options are so, so limited that you just can't see that happening.

"The good thing is I don't see someone also doing what Manchester City did last season and replicating the form that Arsenal show. A lot of teams are going to drop points. It's almost survival of the fittest right now for me. I look at this Premier League season and just how many injuries that have happened, that keep happening.

"Whoever just about manages to keep the really important players in their squad fit are probably going to get themselves over the line in this season. Unfortunately for Arsenal, it doesn't seem to be them at the moment."

Arsenal will endeavour to avoid a third straight loss in all competitions when they host Tottenham Hotspur in Wednesday's North London derby, and Watts also detailed why he believes the visit of Spurs has the potential to be the "worst possible game" for Gooners.

Written by

Ben Knapton