Are the Media Setting Mikel Arteta Up to Fail, or Is the Narrative Fair?
Are sections of the media unfairly piling pressure on Mikel Arteta, or is it time for Arsenal to demand silverware? With the spotlight fixed on the Gunners’ manager, the debate over his future is heating up as the new season approaches.
With Premier League relegation and the title race decided almost a month before the season ended, a vacuum opened up for compelling stories as the 2024/25 campaign meandered toward a predictable close. That’s always a dangerous scenario for managers and players, as the spotlight swings like the Eye of Sauron in search of something — or someone — to scrutinise.
This time, it was Mikel Arteta who found himself under the microscope. On Sky Sports, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher — usually happy to spar — were in rare agreement in the penultimate weekend of the season: Arteta was fortunate not to be under pressure after five years without a trophy. Both added that in the coming campaign he would need to “win something big.”
As Kelly Cates cut to an ad break, there was no taking it back. The narrative had been set: it’s boom or bust for Arsenal’s manager this season.
Was that fair?
Arteta Set to Feel the Love at the Emirates
The reality is that Arteta is still very well regarded at the Emirates Stadium and remains largely adored by the Arsenal faithful. This support should once again be on full show during the Gunners’ opening home game of the season when they host Leeds United on the 23rd of August. If you’re one of the Arsenal fans keen to lend your voice as Arteta steps out of the tunnel just before 17:30 that Saturday evening, you can still access tickets via hellotickets in the lead‑up to the game.
Of course, being there is only part of the experience, and planning your day so everything runs smoothly can make all the difference — especially if you’re travelling into London or arranging Premier League travel from overseas. That’s where a trusted intermediary comes in. This platform provides the best way to buy match tickets with confidence, offering Arsenal tickets for fixtures at the Emirates Stadium as well as options for away games. You can browse in your own language, pay in your own currency and enjoy transparent pricing with no hidden charges, all backed by reliable customer support.
If you do manage to secure Arsenal tickets for the opener against Daniel Farke’s Leeds, it’s likely you’ll be in a sea of red and white, singing a hearty rendition of We’ve Got Super Mikel Arteta as the match begins.
Yes, support will be feverish, but thanks to the ticking clock the media have placed on Arteta, that goodwill is likely to dwindle if silverware once again looks out of reach for the Gunners.
That’s the problem with narratives in a world where clicks and interaction drive the conversation: there’s very little room for nuance. So, should it really be that black and white for Arteta?
A Missed Opportunity as Slot Strikes Gold
It might be if you consider that Arsenal have been the perennial bridesmaids over the last three seasons, finishing runners‑up by five, two and 10 points respectively. While that consistency is admirable, second place last season felt like a disappointment as Arsenal failed to capitalise on Manchester City’s brief break in dominance. Put another way, the Gunners would have won the league by five points had they matched their previous 89‑point season — a total that saw them pipped by Pep Guardiola’s side by just two points in 2023/24.
However, they instead finished 15 points short of that tally and surrendered the league to a new‑look Liverpool side under Arne Slot, who amassed 84 points— a step back rather than progression. Additionally, it certainly didn’t help that the Dutchman lifted the title during his first attempt as Arteta’s wait went on.
On that basis, the calls for silverware or sacking might seem more plausible, but it’s a position that ignores how Arteta has turned Arsenal into a force in England and Europe once again.
Arsenal’s Revival and the Danger of Wanting More
Reaching the Champions League semi‑final last season was the first time Arsenal had made it to the last four in 16 years.
On the domestic front, the Gunners hadn’t qualified for the Champions League in six years before Arteta guided them back there at the end of the 2022/23 campaign. Their runners‑up finish that season was also the first time the club had finished in the top two in six years.
The obvious risk is that if the powers that be at Arsenal — and indeed the fans — are lulled into thinking it’s time for a change simply to win trophies, they could forfeit the consistency and financial rewards that Champions League football brings.
Perhaps the real question to answer is whether Arteta’s time in charge so far represents mediocrity. While opinions will vary, especially outside north London, you would be hard‑pressed to say that turning Arsenal into one of the elite clubs again, both domestically and in Europe, is any sort of failure.
It might not be as dramatic as “be careful what you wish for,” but getting swept up in a narrative that lacks patience and context could be Arsenal’s undoing after years of steady progression.
