Arsenal will sack Mikel Arteta if he fails to lead the Gunners to either the Premier League or Champions League title this season.
Arteta, who is now in his sixth full season as Arsenal manager, appeared to be heading for a historic season at the Emirates Stadium as his team were on track to win an unprecedented quadruple.
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Arsenal fought for all four trophies just a month ago, but Arteta’s men failed in the two national cups. They lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City, before crashing out of the FA Cup quarter-finals against Championship club Southampton.
The Gunners are still favourites to win the Premier League – a trophy that has eluded them since 2004 – but a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth on Saturday has given Manchester City new hope.
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“The loss raises questions about the title ambitions”
Arsenal had the chance to go 12 points ahead of Pep Guardiola’s team, who face Chelsea on Sunday afternoon. Instead, the deserved loss put more question marks over the Gunners’ title ambitions.
The Bournemouth defeat came just four days after Arsenal looked set to get their season back on track with a 1-0 win over Portuguese champions Sporting in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
That game looked set to end in a draw, but Kai Havertz’s goal in injury time means Arsenal have one foot in the semi-finals ahead of the second leg in north London on Wednesday night.
After the clash against Sporting, a captivating match against title rivals Manchester City awaits at the Etihad Stadium.
Sixth season without a trophy? Then it can be goodbye
Several pundits have questioned whether Arsenal would give Arteta more time if the Gunners were to go their sixth straight season without a trophy.
Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo claims that Arsenal would actually start looking for a new manager if that happens – with Arteta done after almost seven years at the helm.
The newspaper also claims that Arsenal have “already” chosen former captain Cesc Fàbregas as the “ideal candidate” to replace Arteta, if the Spaniard is sacked.
Fàbregas: From Arsenal legend to hot manager subject
Fàbregas spent almost a decade at Arsenal as a player. He helped Arsène Wenger’s team win the FA Cup and reach the Champions League final, before moving on to Barcelona.
The Premier League legend later had a successful spell at Arsenal’s London rivals Chelsea, before retiring in 2023 and entering the coaching profession.
Fàbregas has impressed greatly in his first coaching job at Como. The club is currently in fifth place in Serie A and is fighting for Champions League qualification – less than two years after promotion from the second tier.
Como president: “We would be stupid if we didn’t think he could leave”
Como president Mirwan Suwarso recently said that he would be “stupid” if he did not envisage Fàbregas one day leaving the club to become manager of either Arsenal, Chelsea or Barcelona.
“Cesc is incredibly important to us, but we would be foolish not to think that one day he could go to Arsenal, Barcelona or Chelsea,” the Comos president told Italian newspaper Revista Undici.
“If he continues to win with us, or at least succeeds – even though I can’t speak for him – I think he can have bigger dreams.
“That said, I hope that as long as he is here, he will help us create a success plan for those who would replace him as well.
“For me, when he leaves – if he ever leaves – he should be the one who chooses who will take his place. He should be involved in the election. As a member of the football board, he has to help us hire the next coach,” Suwarso said.
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