Simon Jordan and Danny Murphy believe Mikel Arteta is ‘walking the plank’ as they tip Arsenal to sack their manager.
Arsenal collected their first points after four games into the Premier League season, when they narrowly beat Norwich at the Emirates. The victory eased pressure on Mikel Arteta, who had come under intense scrutiny following three successive defeats to Brentford, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Injuries and Covid had disrupted Arsenal’s previous three fixtures, as Arteta had to make do without key players. Against Norwich, supporters saw the Gunners at near full strength and were not disappointed in the end. Despite the narrow margin of that victory, the home side produced a lethal attacking display on the pitch.
Arsenal drastically changed their transfer policy, targeting younger players instead of signing experienced stars on high wages. Many have criticised their approach during the window, while few have applauded those players signed in the summer.
As technical director, Edu recently outlined the club’s strategy for the long-term future; they have been unable to get results off the start. Credit to him, the club are in a transitional period, although pressure will mount again on Arteta with further bad results.
?️ "Arteta is a polished person in the media but not a polished football manager."
Mikel Arteta warned he is ‘walking the plank’ at Arsenal #AFC
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) September 13, 2021
Former Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy and Talksport host Simon Jordan think Arteta might get sacked if he fails to turn around the club’s form. They spoke at length on the show, questioning the manager’s approach. Murphy began by suggesting a sack may be inevitable regardless of their recent result against Norwich. He said, “I think he is walking the plank.
“I like him. I like the way he comes across, I like his humility, I like his work ethic, but ultimately it doesn’t take you far. You have to produce a winning side with what you have got, and he has got some good players; it’s not like he has got a squad full of duds – he has got some really talented boys in there.
“I know they have had a few injuries, and I have been trying to find patience in terms of why it has not been going well. They should be in a better position than they are. The next few weeks are key, the next few games. But I am just not seeing enough in the team and in the way they play for him to sustain a challenge to the big boys.”
Former Crystal Palace owner and Talksport host Simon Jordan asked what the club has become in recent weeks. Jordan commented, “What are they? What have Arsenal become? What are we looking at? We just keep wondering when we are going to see this translation of this polished person in the media to this polished football manager on the pitch.”
As for Arteta, it seems Arsenal are ready to back their manager all the way and ready to ignore recent results owing to the problems the manager faced in the build-up to those games. The club have also shown great faith by backing Arteta financially, as the Gunners were the highest spenders in the Premier League.
However, if bad results do return and persist, the club hierarchy could be forced to re-think their position, which could prove bad for the Spaniard.
