Arsenal head into Sunday's North London derby having dropped points at Wolves and with pundits wondering if they'll once again let a Premier League title-winning chance slip away
Mikel Arteta acknowledges the fans following the team's victory during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Arsenal at Elland Road
Mikel Arteta's contract expires at the end of next season(Image: Stuart MacFarlane, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Sir Alex Ferguson joined Manchester United as manager in November 1986, and at the end of that season, his team finished 11th in what was then the First Division. In his first five full seasons at Old Trafford, Ferguson took his team to finishing positions of second, 11th, 13th, sixth and second.
Mikel Arteta joined Arsenal as manager in December 2019, and at the end of that season, his team finished eighth in the Premier League. In his first five full seasons at the Emirates, Arteta took his team to finishing positions of eighth, third, second, second and second.
Ferguson had arrived at one of English football’s great institutions with over a decade of managerial experience under his belt. Arteta arrived at one of English football’s great institutions with no managerial experience under his belt.
You can talk all you want about how demands and expectations have changed over the past three decades or so, but Arteta has done an extremely good job. In terms of getting over the Premier League title line, he has been unfortunate to be learning his trade in the era of Pep Guardiola and an era of financial might at the elite end of the competition.
Ferguson’s wait ended in his sixth full season, the signing of Eric Cantona proving inspirational as his side eventually overcame a poor first few months of the season to win the club’s first top-flight title in 26 years. In Arteta’s sixth full season, he has a great chance to end Arsenal’s 22-year wait for a Premier League title.
But had Ferguson not won the title in 1992-93, would he have been sacked? No. The club had seen plenty over the years to know they had a manager for a dynasty.
LONDON COLNEY, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Bukayo Saka signs a new contract with Arsenal alongside Mikel Arteta the Arsenal Manager and Andrea Berta the Arsenal Sporting Director at Sobha Realty Training Centre on February 19, 2026 in London Colney, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Bukayo Saka has signed a new deal that keeps him at Arsenal until 2030(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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And as pundits and rival supporters reach for the popcorn and giggle at the prospect of Arteta and his players ‘choking again’, modern-day Arsenal should know the same. In terms of it being a distraction to a manager and a club that is fighting on four fronts as the season’s countdown begins, the timing would not be right to announce it now.
But a new long-term contract should be waiting for Arteta to sign at his convenience. His current deal runs until the end of the 2026-27 season. Would a failure to win the Premier League title this season mean that Arteta is not the right person to lead the club next season and beyond 2027? Absolutely not.
Bukayo Saka has become the latest player to commit himself to Arsenal’s vision of the future, signing a contract that runs until 2030. Recently, there have been new deals for Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri. Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice are next on the list.
Declan Rice walks towards Mikel Arteta after being substituted
Declan Rice is the next player in line for a new long-term contract(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
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These players are not just buying into the great institution, they are buying into Arteta, who sat alongside Saka when he put pen to paper last week. In terms of playing personnel and leadership, this is a club that knows where it is going, unlike Sunday’s opponents, of course.
Mauricio Pochettino had five full seasons at Tottenham Hotspur, finishing fifth, third, second, third and fourth. Relatively early in his sixth season, Daniel Levy got rid of him. That worked out well.
Yes, of course, success is everything but success will come if you consistently put yourself in a position to achieve it. That is what Arteta is doing.
There will be bumps in the road, such as the one at Wolves on Wednesday. There will be below-par performances, such as the one, for example, against Manchester United recently. There will be slightly unfortunate defeats, like the one at Villa Park.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal
Mikel Arteta has called on his team to put the disappointment of the 2-2 draw at Wolves behind them(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
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But to have a squad ultra-competitive on all fronts on a consistent basis takes some doing. And Arteta, who turns 44 next month, is still learning, still maturing as a manager.
Is another so-called Arsenal ‘choke’ on the cards? Quite possibly. Would it be a joke to call for Arteta to be fired on the back of it? Most definitely.
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