Has Mikel Arteta Taken Arsenal as Far as He Can? Trophy Drought Fuels Doubts

When Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League last Wednesday, the consensus on X was clear: “It's time for Arteta to go.” With Liverpool already crowned champions of the 2024/25 EPL season, the Gunners are destined for another trophy-less campaign, once again forced to play second fiddle. While Arteta has transformed this side into a disciplined, technically adept, and competitive team – a far cry from the jumble of washed-up players he inherited from Emery in 2019 – his era has been marred by disappointments. But this isn’t the kind of disappointment born from mediocrity; it’s the cruel, stinging kind – were Arsenal flirt closely with silverware, only to crack at the final stretch.

Two seasons ago, the Spaniard led the EPL table for a record 248 days, only to slip up in the final weeks with devastating draws against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton. The 4-1 loss to Manchester City was crippling, a classic tale of the artful master giving his former student a thrashing.

Man City 4-1 win against Arsenal which destroyed their Premier League title hopes last season

Yet despite missing out on the title by five points, Arteta recorded 26 wins – the same win tally Arsène Wenger achieved with the Invincible's in 2004.

However, the positives of Arteta's reign (including his FA Cup victory in his first season) are now arguably outweighed by the negatives. With their current second-place position under siege, a historic home defeat to Bournemouth, and the evident show of nervousness from Arteta himself, serious questions are being asked about his future.

After closely trailing Manchester City for two seasons, expectations were high that the Gunners would ‘steal’ the title amid City's unconvincing campaign. Two seasons ago, Arsenal had 80 points at this stage. This year, they have only 68 – just two ahead of an in-form Newcastle and three behind a resurgent Manchester City.

The issues with Arteta’s side have rarely stemmed from their defence—they’ve conceded just 33 goals all season, the fewest in the league—but rather from their attack, a lingering concern many still wonder why remains unresolved. While some argue that the problem began with Kai Havertz’s injury in February, it actually runs deeper.

When your primary striker is a midfielder-turned-forward, it's a disaster waiting to happen. This lack of striking options has forced the manager to deploy Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard as centre-forwards – a decision that paid off in isolated games against Real Madrid and Liverpool. But aside from a few matches, Arsenal’s attacking options have simply not been good enough. Martin Ødegaard was blistering hot last season and voted the team's Player of the Season, but now he can hardly make a line-breaking pass. Gabriel Martinelli, meanwhile, continues to divide opinion: one camp believes he should have been dropped long ago, the other insists he still has something to offer. But with a goal coming every 4.29 games, it’s clear what needs to be addressed on Arsenal’s flanks.

It would be unfair to blame Arteta alone, as player recruitment ultimately falls to the board. The philosophy of signings at Arsenal is beyond laughable; for a side that has established itself with one of the best defences in Europe, the decision to reinforce with more midfield and defensive options seemed cautious rather than strategic.

When they eventually looked to boost their attack, they chose a 29-year-old Raheem Sterling – a player clearly past his peak. Players like Marco Asensio, Marcus Rashford, and Victor Osimhen were available, yet the board made a half-hearted bid for Ollie Watkins shortly after the departure of Jhon Durán.

Arteta’s over-reliance may be his undoing. For years, he has leaned heavily on the attacking prowess of Bukayo Saka.

This – in some unique way – has contributed to Saka’s recent injuries and leaves a glaring void in the attack whenever he’s absent. The problem of over-reliance has also seeped into the team's offensive philosophy, which now leans too much on set pieces – making Nicolas Jover a regular presence on the sidelines.

The flaws in Arteta's reign are worth revisiting. Despite his impressive transformation of Arsenal, how has he managed to be knocked out of competitions by teams like West Ham, Southampton, Brighton, and even a 10-man Manchester United sitting 16th on the EPL table? How have his meticulous tactics actually elevated his players? And more importantly, how has this “improved” Arsenal side been moulded into one capable of winning trophies?

Over the last six years, Arteta has spent £680 million on transfers, won one FA Cup, finished second in the league back-to-back, and reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 16 years.

But for a club that has long craved the next level, the current trajectory suggests Mikel might not be the man to take them there – though he could well set the foundation for the next person to do so.

If Arsenal can fix their attacking issues before next season, Arteta might still have a shot. But if the club once again ends up without silverware, it will be difficult for fans to defend him—and even harder for Arteta to continue believing he’s the right man for the job.