Arsenal legend warns Mikel Arteta he could lose the dressing room if something bad happens this season

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has suggested Mikel Arteta’s position could become untenable this season.

Arsenal have one clear goal for the upcoming campaign. The Gunners must find a way to beat Manchester City to the Premier League title, having finished second in each of the last two seasons.

Mikel Arteta’s team are getting closer to their goal, having recently managed to take the title race to the end.

Many believe the north London club will finally achieve their goal on this occasion, with three ESPN pundits backing Arsenal to challenge for the title, for example.

Arteta believes his team has what it takes and has taken radical steps to give themselves an advantage over their rivals.

Arteta has organised a training camp in Marbella ahead of the official start of pre-season, with the Spanish coach hoping the extra fitness work will help his side get going quickly.

What’s more, this summer Arteta hired professional thieves to attack Arsenal players while they were eating in a bizarre attempt to teach the players a valuable lesson about awareness.

It is clear that the manager is ready to do anything to give his team an advantage.

Photo: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

Emmanuel Petit fears Mikel Arteta disaster at Arsenal

Arsenal will need all the qualities they can get. Manchester City are a winning machine and the Gunners will need to be near perfect throughout the campaign to surpass the reigning champions.

Despite the margin for error being so small, the pressure is still on Arteta to deliver this season.

Emmanuel Petit, who won the Premier League title in 1998 while playing in midfield for Arsenal, fears a failure to win a major trophy this season could be disastrous for Arteta.

Speaking to The Mirror (print edition 11/08/2024, page 77), the Frenchman said: “It’s a big season for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta. They need to win a major trophy. If he doesn’t win anything, it will be hard for him to convince the players that he is the man to lead them to glory.

“Without winning silverware, how can you convince players of your ambition and ability to win the Premier League title? How can you convince them to continue the Journey if they haven’t won anything?

“If Arsenal come close but don’t win the Premier League again this year… then the club will have to change something.”

Arteta is secure at Arsenal regardless of the title race outcome

Despite Petit’s concerns, it is hard to imagine Arsenal players losing faith in Arteta or that his position would be in any way threatened this season if the Gunners fail to win the title.

After all, the club have stood by the former midfielder through much tougher times than these before. Edu explained why Arsenal didn’t sack Arteta during his difficult first full season in charge, and the manager has consistently improved the team and its results since then.

The club will continue to support Arteta even if this season does not end with the success it is hoping for.