Mikel Arteta told where Arsenal reign has gone wrong as crisis looms after Man Utd loss
Share:
A week is a long time in football - and doesn't Mikel Arteta know it. In the past seven days, Arsenal's hopes of lifting a trophy have been rocked. The Gunners lost their first home game since April last Tuesday, as in-form Newcastle capitalised on the hosts' toothless display and went 2-0 up in their Carabao Cup semi-final clash.
Then came the FA Cup, as struggling Manchester United paid Arteta's men a visit as firm underdogs - especially after they went down to 10 men. But after missing chance after chance after chance, Arsenal couldn't reach round four, losing on penalties in front of a souring Emirates crowd.
Now the cries from Arsenal fans and pundits alike are louder than ever, with the club's board being urged to act in January and make new signings. But with sporting director Edu leaving, their Premier League title hopes fading, and key players such as Bukayo Saka and Ben White out injured, there are other problems to address in order to rescue the Gunners' season.
This all comes ahead of a huge north London derby on Wednesday, with fans left asking: where has it gone wrong? We asked the Mirror Football team for their verdicts - and how to prevent Arsenal's looming crisis. Mikel Arteta has done a terrific job in his five years at Arsenal - but this season they have gone backwards.
Why? Just look at last summer. They signed a workmanlike midfielder in Mikel Merino - the Spanish James Ward-Prowse without the free kicks - and an injury-prone defender in Riccardo Calafiori. That is £70million-plus of deals. The recruitment was shocking.
