Arteta Feeling the Heat as Arsenal’s Title Hopes Fade
Mikel Arteta is getting heat from a former England striker as Arsenal’s chances of winning the Premier League title are slipping away. After their recent draw with Manchester United, they’re now 15 points behind Liverpool, who are at the top. So, winning the title is looking less and less likely. If Arsenal ends up in second place, like many think, it’ll be the third season in a row they’ve fallen short. That would leave the Champions League as their only shot at a trophy, but winning that is a long shot. Arteta Under Fire Amid Arsenal’s Title Slip.
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Jay Bothroyd Not Impressed with Arteta
Jay Bothroyd, who used to play in Arsenal’s academy, has been very critical of Arteta. He thinks that even with all the money and time the coach has had, the results aren’t good enough. Bothroyd says injuries aren’t an excuse, given that they’ve spent a reported £700 million on new players under Arteta.
Arteta’s been outsmarted this season, Bothroyd said on The Optus Sport Football Podcast. He acts like he’s won a lot, but he hasn’t. His team picks are stubborn, and this season has shown his limits as a manager. He keeps getting his plans wrong, and his choices often mean players are playing in the wrong spots, which messes up the team. Arteta Under Fire Amid Arsenal’s Title Slip.
Frustration Shows in the Media
Arteta’s been frustrated recently. After the disappointing draw with Manchester United, he walked out of a press conference when asked about Arsenal’s title chances. This made Bothroyd question if Arteta can handle the pressure.
He’s happy to talk when the team is winning and doing well, Bothroyd said. But when things aren’t going Arsenal’s way, he avoids tough questions. A manager needs to be responsible whether things are good or bad.
Mark Schwarzer, a former goalkeeper for Chelsea and Australia, also chimed in. He said Arteta has a history of dodging hard questions from the media. He mentioned the situation with Aaron Ramsdale being replaced by David Raya, noting that Arteta always defended Raya but didn’t give straight answers. Arteta Under Fire Amid Arsenal’s Title Slip.
Arsenal Missed a Big Chance
Just a month ago, Arsenal seemed like a real title contender after beating Manchester City 5-1. But Bothroyd thinks they blew a big opportunity, mainly because Manchester City has been struggling this season.
It’s annoying because after City’s dominance for years, you’d think Arsenal would step up and push for the title, he said. They were close, but they haven’t gotten better since last season—but Liverpool has.
Schwarzer agreed, saying Arteta and the players probably know they’re in a bad spot. They know that unless something amazing happens, the title is out of reach. Arsenal will see this season as another missed chance to end their long wait for a Premier League title, he said.
