Arsenal - Mikel Arteta
Image credit: Getty Images
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham has tipped Mikel Arteta to remain Arsenal manager even if the Gunners finish as Premier League runners-up for the fourth consecutive season in 2025/26.
Speaking to Swedish betting company Snabbare, the Spurs icon admitted he would “laugh my head off” if Arsenal miss out on the title once again, but insisted sacking Arteta would be unjust.
“But no, I don’t think that would be the end for Mikel Arteta. I think Arsenal are in a very good place,” Sheringham said.
The 59-year-old drew comparisons with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s time at Manchester United, when a second-place finish proved to be a high point before a decline. However, he argued Arsenal’s trajectory is different.
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“If you look at Arsenal and where they’re at now, I hate to say it but I think they’re very, very close to being the number one team,” he said.
Sheringham credited Manchester City and Liverpool for keeping Arsenal from ending their title drought, adding: “Thank God we’ve had Manchester City and Liverpool around over the last few years to keep them where they are, but they’re not far off it.”
Teddy Sheringham
Teddy Sheringham (Image credit: Getty Images)
Arsenal last won the Premier League in their famous unbeaten 2003–04 “Invincibles” campaign under Arsène Wenger. Since taking charge in December 2019, Arteta has delivered one major trophy, the 2020 FA Cup alongside three consecutive second-place league finishes.
He has also won two Community Shields, though Sheringham dismissed those as “one-off matches.”
The former England striker highlighted the signing of Swedish forward Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP as a major boost to Arsenal’s attack. “They’ve got Viktor Gyokeres, this new striker, and he is obviously going to be the focal point of their team but let’s hope they finish second,” he joked.
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Sheringham’s remarks come as Arsenal prepare to open their 2025/26 campaign away to Manchester United at Old Trafford. The ex-Spurs man previously predicted a tough day for United under new boss Ruben Amorim, warning they could lose heavily.
While some pundits including Jamie Carragher have suggested Arteta could face pressure if Arsenal fail to secure silverware this season, others have rallied to his defence. Thierry Henry has praised the Spaniard’s “tremendous job” and tipped the Gunners for the title.
With Gyökeres joining a squad already boasting Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Declan Rice, Arsenal supporters hope this is finally the year their club ends a 22-year wait for Premier League glory.
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