Former Chelsea star Tony Cascarino thinks Arsenal will sack Mikel Arteta at the end of the season if they don’t secure a top-four spot in the Premier League.
The north Londoners were the league’s highest spenders last year as they splashed over £150m to recruit the likes of Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale, and Takehiro Tomiyasu, who are all first-team regulars now.
However, Arsenal failed to qualify for Champions League football for the seventh consecutive year after finishing two points below fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
This year, the hierarchy has again backed the Spaniard in the transfer market. They have already spent over £100m, bringing in Gabriel Jesus, Matt Turner, Fabio Viera, Marquinhos, and Oleksandr Zinchenko. It doesn’t seem like the spending spree is over yet, with reports suggesting that they are still in the market for a midfielder.
Cascarino has claimed Arteta will be sacked if he doesn’t guide the club to the Champions League after being supported by the club financially. While speaking to TalkSport, he said:
“If you look at the top six, the two that don’t get in the top four this season their managers will lose their jobs, without a doubt. If Arsenal don’t make it, Arteta will lose his job. ”
“I think he’s done everything he can to make his team as competitive as possible, but you now have to make the top four. Unless they only narrowly miss out… but it would have to be the smallest margins or a dramatic end [to save him].”
“Performances week-in, week-out will also count, because that will affect the feeling at the club. I went to a couple of games at the Emirates at the end of the season, and it was rocking. People called it a library, but it was rocking at the end of the season. But if they don’t make the top four Arteta will be gone – that’s what happens.”
Arsenal Fever View:
The Gunners were in pole position to secure a top-four finish last campaign, but injury problems caused turbulence in the squad towards the end of the season. However, they have improved the squad depth with the recent signings.
With these exciting additions to the team, there has been a boost in the belief and morale of everyone at the club and the fans. The expectations are sky-high entering into the new season, and another narrow top-four miss can put the Spaniard’s job in jeopardy.
Read More: Arsenal defender William Saliba set to sign a new contract
