Arsenal need to get back to winning ways if they want to keep alive their hopes of finishing the season with at least one trophy
Mikel Arteta during an Arsenal training session
Mikel Arteta has come under increasing scrutiny(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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After defeat to Bournemouth left Arsenal's previously dominant title race lead in danger, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has come under scrutiny. He has a chance to get back on track against Sporting CP on Wednesday but it's notable that one of the team's biggest weapons has failed to deliver as regularly of late.
Arsenal beat Sporting 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final last week. If they can complete the job on home soil it could give them belief ahead of what looks like a Premier League title showdown away to Manchester City over the weekend.
While some players have returned after recent injury setbacks, others remain doubtful and several missed the latest training session. Among the list of absentees are captain Martin Odegaard and forward Bukayo Saka, who hasn't played since the Carabao Cup final in March.
Arsenal had a quadruple in their sights before that Wembley defeat but could now end the season empty-handed. Here are our latest lines, including what that outcome could mean for Arteta.
Set-piece struggles
Arsenal defender Gabriel has admitted it is becoming tougher for the team to take advantage of their set-piece strength as rivals wise up. The centre-back and his team-mates had plenty of joy from set plays in the first half of the season but it hasn't been plain sailing since the turn of the year to give the Gunners a painful title race reality check.
"Yes, of course, it’s getting more and more difficult because when I arrive in the box often there will be two players coming to mark me," Gabriel told club media. "That’s really good for us though, because as I say, it’s not only me who’s going to score. It opens up spaces for the others and they can all score too.
Gabriel scoring for Arsenal against Aston Villa
Gabriel has been a threat from set pieces(Image: Getty Images)
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"Whenever I go forward for a free-kick or a corner, I know it’s a big chance for us. I put that thought in my head: ’I can score this one.’ It’s my mentality at every single corner."
Arteta handed sack warning
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton believes Mikel Arteta's job will be at risk if Arsenal don't end this season with a trophy. Sutton suggested that, while he doesn't believe Arsenal will have bottled it by not winning the league title, some fans may see things differently and the cost of failing to lift the title for Arteta could be his job.
"I do think he has a problem if he doesn't get over the line in the Premier League or the Champions League," Sutton said on the Monday Night Club. "I think it changes the landscape and the way Arsenal fans will view him, because he's been there long enough..."
He added: "If he (Arteta) doesn't have the support of the Arsenal fans then that's when a decision will need to be made. So I do think it's make-or-break for him in terms of they have to win either the Premier League or Champions League or I think he'll be a goner."
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