Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit believes Mikel Arteta’s time at the club is nearing its conclusion. The Frenchman sees a frustrated manager struggling to take the Gunners to the next level, despite his significant impact over the past five years.
Arteta took charge at Arsenal in December 2019, succeeding Unai Emery and stepping into his first managerial role after serving as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City. Since then, he has overseen a dramatic transformation, restoring Arsenal’s status as a consistent Premier League title contender and guiding them back to the Champions League. His tenure has also delivered an FA Cup and two Community Shields, re-establishing the club’s competitiveness at the highest level.
However, Arsenal’s inability to clinch the league title continues to haunt them. Last season, they finished just two points behind Manchester City, and this term, they find themselves 12 points adrift of league leaders Liverpool with only nine matches remaining. The frustration of falling short once again is evident, and Petit believes Arteta’s energy is waning.
Arsenal’s European campaign remains alive, with a blockbuster Champions League quarter-final against holders Real Madrid ahead. Their impressive 9-3 aggregate thrashing of PSV Eindhoven in the last 16 showcased their attacking prowess, but with early eliminations from the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, opportunities for silverware are dwindling. A tough season has left Arteta visibly frustrated, and Petit believes that could spell the beginning of the end.
“Mikel Arteta looks tired and frustrated, you can see it on his face,” Petit told YaySweepstakes.com. “He has anger in his eyes, in the space of weeks, Arsenal lost the plot in the Premier League. The West Ham game at home looked difficult to accept for him.”
Petit, who won a Premier League and FA Cup double with Arsenal under Arsène Wenger in 1997/98, acknowledged Arteta’s influence in reshaping the club’s identity and mentality but suggested the Spaniard may not be able to take them any further.
“He’s going into his sixth full season as Arsenal manager. He has improved a lot, and he has my full respect, as do his staff. The identity and the mentality have been transformed, the DNA on and off the pitch,” he said. “I thank Mikel for what he has done, but we are reaching the end of his story at Arsenal. The energy is no longer there, and something is missing through no fault of his own. I think it’s down to lacking the right squad to do what he wants to do.”
A lack of squad depth has long been a concern for Arsenal, and Petit pointed to last season’s title collapse as evidence of the issue. A crucial injury to William Saliba proved costly, and once again, Arsenal find themselves short when it matters most.
“Look at when William Saliba was missing in the title race,” Petit added. “When it gets down to these pivotal moments, they lack the options, the story keeps on repeating itself. I won’t point the finger at Arteta. The staff have improved collectively. But fighting to be a champion, you need the tools to do it. The depth and quality are not right despite the chances to make it right. It looks like history will keep repeating itself.”
As Arsenal prepare for the final stretch of the season, Arteta’s future remains uncertain. Champions League success could change the narrative, but unless Arsenal break their title drought soon, questions about his tenure will only grow louder.
