Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been through many highs and lows since becoming manager but ahead of taking on Chelsea in the League Cup this week, he is now facing one of his biggest headaches.
The Gunners are competing on four fronts and will face Wigan in round four of the FA Cup after cruising through at the weekend.
That puts Arsenal in contention to win all four competitions this season, meaning a big chance at success for the club.
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As we all know, though, the Premier League is the big fish most supporters are after.
And with that focus in mind, it is why Arteta is arguably facing his biggest challenge yet as manager.
Mikel Arteta has big decisions to make in all competitions
Being involved with and continuing to win in all competitions can be a big bonus for any club.
It keeps momentum ticking along and for the players, having games come in quick succession is much better than training all week for just the single game.
However, being involved in all four competitions means squad rotation of sorts and with that, Arteta has some huge decisions to make.
We’ve all seen in recent seasons how Arsenal have dipped away from the title race when it mattered. This time, with a six point gap over Man City, it seems like it’s theirs to throw away.
But with three more competitions to win, what will Arteta do? Will he risk it and play the same sort of team in every single game? Does he make wholesale changes for the domestic cup competitions?
The gamble here for Arteta is whatever he chooses, if Arsenal blow the league once again, his decision making will be called into question.
Yes, he could win another trophy in the cups and the Champions League, of course, is the big dangling carrot.
But he could also end up with nothing and should that be the case come the end of May, it would bring into question just how capable the Spaniard is of leading the Gunners to trophies.
Mikel Arteta needs to win the Premier League
It might sound like we are dismissing the domestic cup competitions but frankly, in a way, we are.
Arsenal and Arteta’s legacy from recent seasons will rest on if they can win the Premier League.
It’s what fans want, the board want and what most players want. It’s a season’s work and the greatest prize on offer.
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With that, the League Cup and FA Cup need to be used by Arteta to keep his squad sharp and get them minutes.
There might be some overlap in terms of selection but ultimately, Arsenal’s best XI’s need to be playing in the league.
From there, any other win is a bonus. But right now, it’s all eyes on winning the title and nothing else.
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