Mikel Arteta's Arsenal Journey: From Near-Sacking to Title Contention
Mikel Arteta stands just five games away from achieving eternal glory with Arsenal, despite a recent 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Premier League. This setback has intensified the pressure on the Gunners, who now face a critical phase in their season.
Title Race Tensions After Manchester City Defeat
The loss to Manchester City allowed Pep Guardiola's side to claw back vital points in the Premier League title race. While Arsenal still maintain a three-point lead at the top of the table, City could join them on 70 points if they secure a victory against Burnley on Wednesday night. Arteta's squad now depends on City dropping points elsewhere, while Arsenal must win every remaining match to secure domestic success this season.
Arteta's Brush with Dismissal in 2020
Despite the current challenges, Arteta has come a long way since a precarious moment in 2020 when he faced the sack. Following a home defeat by Wolves, the Spaniard admitted his job was at risk, even though he had recently won the FA Cup. At that time, Arsenal were reportedly planning for life after Arteta and had identified a potential successor.
Italian news outlet StadioSport revealed that the Gunners were considering former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri as a replacement. Sarri had spent one season with Chelsea, guiding them to a Europa League victory with a 4-1 thrashing of Arsenal in the final. However, Arteta managed to turn things around in north London, silencing the rumours and retaining his position.
Sarri's Current Role and Arsenal's Trophy Pursuits
Meanwhile, Maurizio Sarri is currently managing Lazio, who sit in a respectable ninth position in Serie A after a recent 2-0 away victory against champions Napoli. Sarri has been with Lazio since 2021, with a brief 15-month break during the 2024/25 season after resigning voluntarily in March 2024.
In contrast, Arteta has led Arsenal to the brink of glory multiple times. The Gunners have finished second in the Premier League for three consecutive seasons and have reached various cup finals with limited success. Their last trophy was the Community Shield in 2023, secured by beating Manchester City 4-1 on penalties.
With the Premier League title hanging in the balance and a challenging Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid ahead, Arsenal risk another trophyless season. Arteta remains aware of the pressure but expresses confidence in his team's abilities.
Arteta's Post-Match Confidence and Team Morale
Speaking after the defeat to Manchester City, Arteta emphasized his belief in the squad. "I believe today, I believe on Wednesday, a week ago, because I see them every day and I know the level that we have. But today, if they need to be more convinced, I think they are now more convinced," he stated.
Arteta added, "They were talking about it in the dressing room. It's a new league now. They were a game in hand. We have three points of advantage and five games to play. So everything is still to play for. So we know how much we want it and we're not going to stop and we're going to go again, that's for sure."
As Arsenal navigate this pivotal period, the revelation of Arteta's near-sacking in 2020 underscores the resilience and progress under his leadership, making the current title race all the more compelling.
