Pressure is beginning to mount on Mikel Arteta’s shoulders with Arsenal now out of the Champions League – and three ex-Gunners stars have had their say on the uncertainty
Mikel Arteta’s future at Arsenal has, for the first time years, come under scrutiny following the club’s painful Champions League exit at the hands of PSG.
The defeat, which means the Gunners have now gone five seasons without a trophy, has ignited debate over whether the 43-year-old remains the right man to lead them forward. But amidst all the speculation and chatter, it’s worth noting that three former Arsenal players have publicly backed Arteta, insisting he deserves to stay and continue the project he’s built at the Emirates Stadium.
Back in January, Alan Smith said missing out on the Premier League title this season would be “a bitter blow”, but tipped Arteta and his team to bounce back and “achieve great things”.
“The squad is still young, learning all the time from victories and mistakes. It’s a process,” the Arsenal icon told Bonus Code Bets. “Of course, the team needs reinforcements – there’s always room to freshen things up. But the core of this team can still achieve great things.
“I don’t think Arteta’s job is in danger,” he added. “The owners won’t make a knee-jerk decision. Yes, there’s dissatisfaction among some fans, but the club is unlikely to react hastily.”
Similarly, Jeremie Aliadiere said he believed that Arteta was the man to lead Arsenal to glory and urged the Spaniard to “ignore social media”. Speaking to the Daily Express in March, the Frenchman stressed: “Arteta is the main to lead Arsenal forward.
“You look at what he has changed at the club, the positivity, the fanbase is more engaged. The recruitment has been very good. Arsenal are challenging for all major honours. Arsenal have been so close, but it’s getting over the line which matters and Mikel can do this.”
Reacting to Arsenal’s semi-final first leg defeat to PSG last month, ex-Gunners keeper and Invincibles star Jens Lehmann hit out at Arteta’s critics – but did concede he needed to “win next year”.
“You have to give a lot of credit to him,” Lehmann told talkSPORT. “He pulled himself out, he changed the team and now he has made them very stable, and stable at the top, which is fantastic for the current owner, because he generates the money.
“But obviously, he has to win next year. This year, they could have won [the Premier League], Manchester City dropped a little bit, Liverpool replaced them.
“Next year he has to win, but he probably needs to change his personality a little bit to win things. Because sometimes, it’s [about] control and being cautious. But if you want to win some things, in my opinion you could be a little more risky.”
In five-and-a-half years in charge at Arsenal, Arteta has only managed to lift the FA Cup – a triumph that came just months after his appointment in December 2019. Since then, he’s transformed the club into a formidable domestic and European force, but major silverware continues to elude him.
This season’s Champions League campaign represented Arsenal’s best run in the competition since 2009. A resounding 5-1 aggregate win over Real Madrid in the quarter-finals sparked genuine hope of finally realising the club’s Champions League dream.
However, those dreams were dashed in the semi-finals, where PSG outfoxed the Gunners to secure a 3-1 aggregate win and a spot in the final at the Allianz Arena against Inter Milan.
As the summer approaches, focus will inevitably turn back to the Premier League, where Arsenal will once again aim to end their 20-plus-year wait for a title. After finishing runners-up to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in back-to-back seasons, the 2024/25 campaign felt like their best chance yet – especially with City showing uncharacteristic inconsistency.
Injuries have certainly played a part in derailing Arsenal’s momentum, but their continued reluctance to sign a proven striker remains a major talking point. That decision may have ultimately cost them in crucial moments, however, with reports suggesting a new forward will arrive before next season, the squad could be set for a timely boost in their pursuit of major honours.
With greater firepower, though, comes heightened expectation. And if Arteta continues to fall short when it matters most, the goodwill he currently enjoys – even from Arsenal alumni – may begin to wane.
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