How much time is too much time for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal?

Mikel Arteta has overseen Arsenal's worst-ever start to a Premier League season, as the Gunners currently sit at the bottom of the table.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta in a file photo. (Image: Twitter)
By Shayne Dias | Aug 29, 2021 | 4 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

When the final whistle blew after Manchester City’s drubbing of Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, there was a palpable sense of relief that the scoreline was not much worse. August 28, 2021 marked 10 years to the day that Arsenal were thumped 8-2 by Manchester United in one of the most lop-sided affairs in Premier League history. And while 5-0 is a bad loss any which way, it really truly could have been so much worse. Another notable thing happened after the game – City manager Pep Guardiola shared a public endorsement for Mikel Arteta, the man in charge of the Gunners who was previously City’s assistant manager.

“All I can is that I worked two or three years together, he’s above and beyond a good manager,” Guardiola told BT Sport.

“The character, the personality, the leading and he’s incredibly beloved by all of us. We were sad when he left and sometimes people expect results immediately.

“The squad and the team that he played today, it’s not the team that he dreamed of because he has six, seven, eight players injured, important, really important, players.

“Ben White, Thomas Partey came here, and he cannot use the players that he needs to do it. I am a big fan of him and I’m pretty sure if they trust him, they are going to do a good job at Arsenal.”

Guardiola and Arteta are close friends, so the backing is understandable. Yet the fact that Guardiola needed to endorse him once again at all says a lot.

The start of the season has not been kind to Arsenal. Three games, 3 losses, no goals scored, 9 goals conceded and stuck at the bottom of the table. Surely it can only be onwards and upwards from here… right?

Arsenal – a mess in more ways than one

Before we get into answering what is clearly a loaded questions, there are a few things worth noting. Yes, it’s still early days. No, Arsenal will not be embroiled in a relegation battle – despite what some naughty people on social media might say.

But this is far from an ideal start to the season – especially since Arsenal have spent more than any other side in England. Again though, there are mitigating circumstances.

As Guardiola noted, Arteta is missing several key players due to injury or illness. The squad does lack a bit of depth due to this, meaning he was calling on Sead Kolasinac of all people to start this game.

And last but not least – Mikel Arteta cannot be held accountable for players unable to execute the basics of their trade. It isn’t Arteta’s fault that, despite having two left-backs on the field, they contrived to concede three goals from crosses on that side.

Neither is it his fault that his central defenders cannot seem to outjump and outhead players shorter than them. The squad, as it is, is in desperate need of a clear-out. New signings have come, but many older failed buys still remain at the club.

In this current market deflated by COVID-19, it can be much harder to shunt out unwanted players. Arsenal are finding that out the hard way.

They’re also not helped by having inexperienced people (see: Edu) do a job that requires people with authority and knowledge. The club, as it is, is not in a good place.

Which brings all the more pressure on the manager. And when the manager himself is a rookie learning on the job, it is bound to be a recipe for disaster.

Mikel Arteta – stay or go?

There are two thoughts of school on Arteta’s struggles. The first is that he should be sacked immediately, while others want him to get more time.

Yet, there is a third opinion that should be more widely shared. That is, of course, that an experienced hand would deal with this chaos much better.

It isn’t Arteta’s fault that the way Arsenal are run is chaotic. Neither, of course, can he change the culture of the club overnight. But it is clear that he seems out of his depth as things stand.

When he first arrived, under little or no pressure, he did manage to deliver some results. He beat some of the bigger teams and even won the FA Cup in 2020. Yet it’s all been steadily downhill since then.

The team have recorded back-to-back eighth place finishes in the league. And, despite bringing in new signings, the style of play has gone backwards, not forward.

At present, Arteta’s Arsenal possess the frailty which has lingered since latter-era Arsene Wenger’s time in charge. But, to make things worse, they look lost going forward.

Under Wenger, Arsenal always played attractive attacking football – even at the expense of defensive solidity. Under Arteta, they are currently able to do neither.

The whole point of bringing in a new, fresh face into the job was to take the club ahead. As things stand, at least on the field, things have gotten worse.

Of course, the chaos surrounding the club does not make this an easy job. But even if we were to judge Arteta purely on his transfer record and football results, he has not been good enough.

Tough decision ahead

As things stand, there is no indications from the club that they are willing to sack Mikel Arteta. Given the amount that has been invested for him, it would make sense that the club’s higher-ups want to see him succeed.

However, it cannot be denied that Arteta’s job is in the balance. Such a start, no matter the circumstances, is not good enough. Even if Arsenal are intent on giving him time, there is a limit to just how much they can afford.

Because, should they decide to sack him and do so too late, it will make the task much harder for whoever comes next.





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