Jamie Carragher believes Mikel Arteta could be sacked if he doesn't win a trophy next season. Since replacing Unai Emery five-and-a-half years ago in the dugout, the Arsenal boss has only got his hands on a single piece of silverware.
Shortly after taking over at the Emirates Stadium in December 2019, Arteta led the Gunners to FA Cup glory. With his fellow countryman's squad, Arsenal defeated Chelsea behind closed doors at Wembley Stadium.
Arteta hasn't managed to lift a major trophy since, let alone in front of the club's supporters. In the five years that have followed, the Spaniard has only managed to win a couple of Community Shields.
While Arteta has transformed the north Londoners into a formidable Premier League outfit, he's not got much to show for his efforts. In a column for The Telegraph, Carragher explained why he fears for the 43-year-old's future.
The former Liverpool defender said: "One of the worrying signs of a manager under pressure is when interviews become more about validating work already done, fending off mounting criticism of the here and now amid increased questioning about what comes next.
"Some of Arteta’s most recent public comments have veered into that territory, making him sound more like a fan on social media, perpetuating a series of complaints about injuries and refereeing decisions.
"His remarks about Arsenal deserving to beat Paris St-Germain over two legs in the Champions League semi-final left him open to ridicule."
Carragher added: "This season has not even been close, making some of the claims about what might have been from Arsenal sound increasingly absurd, bordering on the delusional.
"The reason Arsenal are granting rather than receiving a guard of honour on Sunday is because they are not the complete package."
Looking ahead to next season, the Sky Sports pundit insisted that Arteta must be backed in the summer transfer window. Carragher said: "To say his next transfer window might be the last chance sounds extreme.
"Arteta has so much credit in the bank, it is fair and right there is more resistance to managerial change at Arsenal than desire for it.
"But no one understands better than him that all the goodwill for creating an Arsenal team capable of winning is gone. Arteta must deliver next season, otherwise his legacy will be years of groundwork for the benefit of a successor who will be asked to add the finishing touches."
football.london understands that Arteta still has the backing of the club, and they believe he's the right man for the job – hence his new three-year deal last summer.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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