Mikel Arteta is reportedly likely to remain at Arsenal even if the Gunners fail to win a trophy this season, unless the manager himself decides to leave.
Sami Mokbel reports for the BBC that despite Arsenal’s apparent “capitulation” in the Premier League title race, he believes that the only way Mikel Arteta won’t be Arsenal’s manager next season is if he himself makes the call.
Mokbel reports that Arsenal’s ownership are 100% behind the current manager, and they want him to sign a new contract.
The journalist points out that if you look at where Arsenal were when Arteta joined the club, versus where they are today, there’s clearly been significant progress. It seems the club owners are likely to view the current situation with that perspective.
Danny Murphy made a similar argument on the BBC after Sunday’s defeat, saying: “I understand success is based on trophies but ultimately let’s say Arteta lost the Premier League on goal difference and lost the Champions League final, you have to give perspective.
“He’s there or thereabouts. They are getting closer and closer. I know it’s been a couple of years of finishing second. The squad is as good as it’s ever been.
“There is talk if he doesn’t win anything he should go, I think that’s crazy.”
It’s obviously difficult to keep that longer-term perspective in mind right now, when Arsenal have let two cup competitions slip through their grasp and are now almost on level terms with Manchester City in the Premier League.
The Gunners are in the semi-finals of the Champions League, and they’ll feel confident about their chances against Atletico Madrid, but there are no guarantees in knockout football.
The Premier League was always the team’s best bet at a trophy, and it will now take perfection from here until the end of the season to win it.
But for Arsenal’s ownership group, it seems that consistently getting the team into these positions to potentially win trophies is enough to make up for the fact the side still haven’t managed to get over the line.
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