Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit believes a “frustrated” Mikel Arteta is now reaching the end of his tenure at the club.
The former Gunners captain has been in charge in north London since returning to succeed compatriot Unai Emery in the dugout in December 2019, taking up his first managerial job having previously worked as an assistant coach under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Arsenal have been transformed on and off the pitch during Arteta’s reign that has lasted for more than five years, becoming consistent Premier League title contenders and returning to the Champions League having also won the FA Cup and two Community Shields.
However, they have been unable to get over the line when it comes to attempting to end their 21-year wait for another title since ‘The Invincibles’, currently trailing runaway leaders Liverpool by 12 points at the top-flight summit with only nine games remaining this season and finishing two points adrift of reigning champions City last term.
Arsenal remain in this season’s Champions League with a huge quarter-final tie against holders Real Madrid to come after thrashing PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate in the last 16, though have no other opportunity for silverware remaining after being dumped out of the FA Cup third round by Manchester United and later been defeated over two legs by eventual winners Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
And while Petit - a double-winner at the club under Arsene Wenger in 1997/98 - has the utmost admiration for what Arteta has achieved with Arsenal, he believes we are now reaching “the end of his story” at the Emirates Stadium after their frustrating recent title collapse.
“Mikel Arteta looks tired and frustrated, you can see it on his face. He has anger in his eyes, in the space of weeks,” Petit told YaySweepstakes.com.
“Arsenal lost the plot in the Premier League having been fighting with Liverpool, the West Ham game at home looked difficult to accept for him.
“He’s going into his sixth full season as Arsenal manager, he has improved a lot and he has my full respect as do his staff. The identity and the mentality have been transformed, the DNA on and off the pitch.
“I thank Mikel for what he has done, but we are reaching the end of his story at Arsenal. The energy is no longer there and something is missing through no fault of his own, I think it’s down to lacking the right squad to do what he wants to do.
“Look at when William Saliba was missing in the title race, when it gets down to these pivotal moments, they lack the options, the story keeps on repeating itself.
“I won’t point the finger at Arteta, the staff have improved collectively. But fighting to be a champion you need the tools to do it, the depth and quality are not right despite the chances to make it right. It looks like history will keep repeating itself.”
