Arsenal legend Ian Wright senses Mikel Arteta may face pressure to stay in charge at Emirates Stadium if the Gunners now fail to win the Premier League title this season.
The iconic Arsenal striker does not feel Arteta is in any immediate pressure over his future in north London. But Wright senses the outcome of the Gunners’ challenge to Manchester City to take the Premier League title may see the Spaniard face questions at the end of the term.
Just one point currently splits Manchester City at the top of the table to Arsenal in third. The Emirates Stadium natives also trail Liverpool on goal difference through 12 matches. Arteta’s side have won eight and drawn three of their games so far this season with 26 goals scored.
Arsenal hope to go one better and beat Manchester City for the Premier League title
Liverpool edge Arsenal for second place at the November international break having scored 27 goals so far this season. Both sides have conceded just 10 goals in their opening fixtures. No Premier League club has allowed fewer goals so far this term than Arsenal and Liverpool.
Arteta will hope his resilient defence is the difference as Arsenal strive to go one better than last season and beat Manchester City for the Premier League title. The Citizens took the title by five points to the Gunners in 2022/23. They also won the crown with three games to play.
Wright believes Arteta ‘will be judged’ based on what Arsenal deliver this season
Arsenal enjoyed 248 days atop the Premier League table as they chased their first title since the 2003/04 Invincibles. But a late collapse saw Arteta’s efforts to enhance Arsenal’s trophy cabinet fall short. They won just three of their last nine games after winning the prior seven.
With questions now hanging over Emirates Stadium regarding some of Arteta’s signings, like David Raya and Kai Havertz, Wright senses the pressure is starting to build on the Spaniard’s position as the Arsenal manager. But he doubts they will fire Arteta, barring a dire campaign.
“I don’t think so,” Wright said on The Overlap. “It is going to depend on the manner, isn’t it? He’s making decisions already. He’s brought the goalkeeper in, people are questioning some of his signings.
“I think he’s somebody that’s very tunnel vision in what he wants to do. He is someone who is going to go for what he’s trying to do. And I think he’ll be probably be judged at the end of the season if he can do it.
“But I feel that to try to chase down Manchester City with what they are doing, the margins, what you are trying to gain are very, very tough. It’s going to be tough for anybody to try and do it, not just Mikel.”
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