Following Arsenal’s defeat to Liverpool, former Premier League striker Wayne Rooney has suggested it could be do or bust for Mikel Arteta this campaign. The Gunners succumbed to a narrow one nil defeat to the defending champions on Sunday. In what was a relatively drab affair, it took a moment of brilliance from Dominik Szoboszlai to separate the two sides as the Reds laid down an early season marker with a win. Mikel Arteta would have been left to rue the first loss of the new campaign, with the Gunners having to play catch up already.
Rooney’s big claim about Arteta’s future
The start of the new campaign came with renewed expectation for Mikel Arteta’s men. After strengthening extensively in the transfer market, many will feel it is now or never for the Gunners. Wayne Rooney was quizzed about the same topic and he had this to say via BBC: “Maybe not for Arsenal, but I think for Arteta, possibly. I think they have allowed him to bring a lot of players in, and spend a lot of money. I imagine the board and certainly the fans will be expecting him to win the league. So I think it could be a big year for him.”
The legendary Premier League & England forward also went on to question Arsenal’s intent, suggesting they should have showed more bravery to win the game. “If they were just a little bit braver and went and actually took the game a bit more to Liverpool, I think they can go and win that,” he said. “I think that is a real chance missed for Arsenal today. But then I think Liverpool have done what champions do, they stayed in the game.”
Pressure mounting on Arteta
There obviously should not be too much pressure on Mikel Arteta’s job this early in the campaign, but questions will be asked if he fails to deliver yet again come the end of the season. It will be expected following the investment of hundreds of millions of pounds during his six year tenure so far. He has done incredibly well, learning on the job to become one of the best managers in the world, however he will be under immense pressure if things go south this campaign.
With that said, should this be Arteta’s last campaign with the Gunners if no silverware arrives? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Benjamin Kenneth
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At any other club, I would 100% say, yes Arteta is in the last chance saloon. But this is THE ONLY problem I have with our owner. WILL HE BE THINKING THE SAME? A club that wants to win the big jugs, would hold the manager to account.
It should be his last season but it won’t. If he finishes top 5 it’ll be job done as far as the Kroenke’s are concerned and the Arteta fan base will have a new mountain of excuses as to why he won nothing again! The new puma ball is too round, Arteta wanted Sesko, Berta failed Arteta, Arsenal fans are too entitled, look at where we were before Arteta! Refs have an agenda against Arsenal! I don’t understand how we can call ourselves a big club when the majority of our own fan base are quite happy to watch this dross under Arteta and win absolutely nothing and have convinced themselves no other manager in world football could have arsenal finishing 2nd.
I wonder if Man.United has different ambitions than us? They have been much more successful than us but are struggling to win the league. They have also been replacing lots of managers but replacing managers hasn’t been a success criteria, ref. Ferguson, Guardiola and Wenger 👋👋
Guardiola and Wenger won quickly after joining their respective clubs – Ferguson, I think, almost lost his job as it took a while to win his first title, but he did at least have pedigree from his achievements in Scotland to give some confidence he knew what he was doing.
Each year we don’t win the title, arteta has to be asked to convince us that next year he can go one better and bring something home. Each year that goes by, that will be harder to do – at some point you have to say “good effort, but it’s time to give someone else a go”.
I do think arteta has done an incredible job in reversing the negative trajectory we were on btw – I don’t think it was easy and I don’t think many managers could have done it (including many celebrated managers with vast experience) – but now we need to take the next step and win something major, and imo he has to do that soon because the positive trajectory he’s got us on/had us on has to bear fruit – it can’t last forever.
Title or CL otherwise sack!
We’re only three games in and we’ve got ‘experts’ planning the managers demise – he will be aware of the need to improve, to solve the need to transition the defense into offense, score more and get the best out of VG14. He will be aware that to date we’ve not yet played EE10 in at a start or brought Trossard, Havertz, Saka, Benny Blanco, Nwaneri or Hincapie in the side yet. He will find a way to improve.
Mikel go home, spend quality time with family – some fans will never be satisfied no matter how you try – some fans won’t remember how far we come to be title challengers but when you hold up a trophy they’ll all claim ‘…see I told you so’.
We’ve got time, lots of time and more twists and turns: If that saying “defenses win titles” holds weight then on closer inspection we’re in really good shape… especially when compared to all our rivals.
“ Mikel go home, spend quality time with family”
Hopefully don’t come back would be my advice
@ Dan Kit
Have you ever in your life been to anfield??
What’s that got to do with anything .
Had you EVER been there you just might better understand why they have created a fortress the likes of which which we want to emulate: If you been to some grounds; anfield, old trafford, goodison, st james park, then you would better get the real experience of why many over years have tried not succeeded to win at anfield: You would be better placed to appreciate Mikel is the one – who has the experience, the backing, focus (usually) and a belief that is lacking with elements among our fanbase. Drop the agenda.
Rooney is one of the best players iv seen come as a kid – or man boy – to play in the prem. However, his track record as a manager, insight and record speaks for itself he isn’t someone we should take seriously as tactic expert because everywhere he managed failed.
He’s a Great for sure – although his opinions on showing more bravery blar blar bla didn’t work when he was at Everton or at any of the teams he managed, correct? So I think his opinions on arsenal fc 2025/26 we can overlook.
Rooney who can’t manage a Championship side is the one questioning Arteta’s tactics and doling out ultimatums! And we, great Arsenal fans, are idolising his views….sigh.
The point/argument is what matters, not the person who made it.