Arsenal’s patience with Mikel Arteta is running thin, and the clock on his tenure at the Emirates may now be ticking louder than at any point since he took charge.
The frustration internally boiled over following Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Championship side Southampton at St Mary’s, a result that stripped Arsenal of another trophy and left the club with only the Premier League and Champions League to play for this season.
The defeat came just a fortnight after Arsenal lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City, meaning they have now been knocked out of two cup competitions within the space of three weeks.
Arsenal went from being genuine contenders for a historic quadruple to having just two trophies remaining, and the manner of both exits has done little to ease the pressure building around Arteta.
The Southampton loss drew particular criticism given that Arteta made significant changes to his starting lineup, leaving Viktor Gyokeres on the bench among other regulars.
Per recent reports, the club considers being knocked out by a Championship side “unacceptable.” Arsenal believe they have shown considerable patience with Arteta and still regard him as the right man for their project, but the stance from above has hardened.
Titles are now required immediately, and if Arsenal end the season without winning either the Premier League or the Champions League, Arteta could be sacked this summer.
Arsenal currently hold a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League, with Manchester City having a game in hand, and face Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-finals, giving Arteta genuine opportunities to save his position over the coming weeks. The margin for further error, however, has narrowed considerably.
