Mikel Arteta’s five-year tenure at the helm of Arsenal has been a period of significant transformation, yet the question remains: Has he done enough to guarantee lasting success?
When Arteta took over in December 2019, Arsenal were in disarray, having struggled under Unai Emery following Arsène Wenger’s departure. Since then, Arteta has guided the club to an FA Cup triumph and mounted two serious Premier League title challenges, but his legacy remains in limbo.
The bigger issue for Arteta is that Arsenal, despite their improvements, are still without a Premier League title since their Invincible season of 2004. It’s been 20 years—the longest post-war title drought in the club’s history. Arsenal have won titles in the 1950s, the 1971 Double, and under George Graham in 1989 and 1991, but this current spell of underachievement has left a bitter taste for fans who expect more.
Arteta has undeniably made progress by rebuilding the squad and restoring the club’s values, and for the past two seasons, Arsenal have challenged Manchester City for the Premier League crown. However, falling short in both seasons, especially after making significant progress, raises the question: Is that enough?
This season, particularly, offers the chance to break City’s dominance, but Arsenal have yet to deliver. A lack of crucial signings in the summer has been a key factor. Despite a pressing need for a left winger and a striker, Arteta instead opted for injury-prone left-back Riccardo Calafiori and defensive midfielder Mikel Merino, signings that, while promising, haven’t been what the team urgently required.
Arsenal’s reliance on set-pieces and key players like Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard has been glaring, as they continue to struggle with goals from open play. While Arteta often cites statistics like possession, shots, and expected goals, these metrics fail to justify Arsenal’s inability to secure victories. Stats alone won’t win matches, and they don’t excuse dropped points or missed opportunities.
As the season progresses, some fans are growing impatient. The draw against Everton last Saturday only heightened frustrations, with Arsenal missing the chance to close the gap on Liverpool at the top of the table. Arsenal’s lack of consistency and failure to improve on last season’s performance threatens to stall their progress.
Arteta’s supporters argue that his progress should be given time, but there comes a point when enough is enough. If Arsenal don’t win a major trophy this season, the pressure on Arteta should mount. The growing sense of impatience, amplified by recent setbacks, shows that fans are no longer willing to accept mere progress.
While some supporters continue to make excuses for Arteta—blaming injuries, suspensions, and excessive travel—the reality is that the club’s ambition must now match the results. Arsenal fans have waited long enough for another title, and if the team’s performances don’t reflect that expectation, Arteta will face increasing demands for immediate success.
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