EXCLUSIVE Mikel Arteta is under increasing pressure at Arsenal after the Gunners surrendered their grip on the Premier League title race following defeat at Manchester City
13:01, 20 Apr 2026
Mikel Arteta
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Mikel Arteta is under mounting pressure at Arsenal
Mikel Arteta is under mounting pressure after Arsenal’s defeat against Manchester City on Sunday saw the Gunners surrender their Premier League title grip.
In the space of just a week-and-a-half, Arsenal could go from being nine points clear at the top of the table to second if Pep Guardiola’s side beat Burnley on Wednesday. Back-to-back league defeats have allowed City the opportunity to climb to the top of the table.
The Etihad loss means it’s four consecutive domestic defeats for the Gunners as the wheels come off their Quadruple hunt in spectacular fashion having lost the Carabao Cup final to City and being dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship side Southampton in the quarter-final.
Mikel Arteta
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Mikel Arteta is feeling the heat after Arsenal threw away their Premier League stranglehold(Image: Getty Images)
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However, their Premier League destiny is still in their hands, as well as a Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid that could see Arsenal still land the double and their first-ever European crown.
Former Liverpool, Manchester United and England striker Michael Owen, who now represents Casino.org, a leading platform helping players find UK casino brands, told the Daily Star Sport that even if Arsenal don’t win the Premier League, Arteta should not face the sack.
He said: “No, Mikel is coming up against one of the greatest managers of all time and you are sitting second against him. Arsenal are improving all the time and challenging for the title year in year out. He is doing a great job and look at how close they’ve been over the years.
Michael Owen
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Michael Owen has backed Mikel Arteta to keep his job even if Arsenal miss out on the Premier League title
“In the Champions League Arsenal have now reached back to back Champions League semi-finals, which is no mean feat. They have the chance to reach the final and go one step further this year.
“This isn’t the time for any negativity at all. Arsenal can still win the League and Champions League.
“They have a very competitive squad, which will only continue to get stronger, so no, if they don’t win the League, then I don’t think he should be sacked.”
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Arsenal’s picture for the rest of the season will become a lot clearer after City play Burnley on Wednesday. Guardiola’s side are huge favourites to win and move to the top of the table on goal difference.
However, if the relegation-threatened side can defy the odds and pick up a result to keep themselves from potentially being relegated against the Blues, then Arsenal will breathe a huge sigh of relief and still be the team to dictate the title race.