Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
Football fans that have followed the sport since the early-2000s know that Mikel Arteta was a player for whom experts predicted a glorious future. Even though he did not manage to live up to those expectations, Arteta still had a more than decent career, establishing himself at Rangers before moving on to Everton and then Arsenal.
Following his on-field retirement, the midfielder quickly dipped his toes into the coaching waters by accepting an assistant position at Manchester City. In December of 2019, he got appointed as manager of his former club, Arsenal, signing a contract valid until 2023. Many immediately questioned the call, asking if it was a case of too much too soon. Some digital bookies even had future odds on how long he will last. If readers aren't familiar with the latter, they should check out a guide to online sports betting, which explains that these are bets punters place on events that may happen far into the future.
Now, after lasting a year and a half in his position, Londoners are calling for Arteta's head, dissatisfied that Arsenal will miss playing European football next year and may even finish outside the top ten in England. With his job hanging on by a thread, everyone's asking if he was the right decision in 2019 and if he has a future at Emirates Stadium.
According to the Spanish manager, his Gunners project will explode once all of its moving pieces click into place. Though times are tough right now, he thinks he has a strong group of guys under his wing, with a few flying under the radar, set to play a massive role soon.
He asks fans to be patient because none of them are aware of the goings-on within the club and the financial strains Arsenal is dealing with at the moment. Arteta desires to have a sustainable club that can run on its resources, aiming for a Champions League spot every year. However, settling the financial department is a crucial step toward attaining these goals, and everyone has to remain patient.
Per reports, Arteta is hoping for a massive transfer window this summer. He claims that squad changes must happen and expects that the owners will back him with a slew of signings.
The Gunners recently crashed out of the Europa League semi-final, following an elimination by Villarreal. A trophy in that competition could have been this season's saving grace. Yet, fans were again left disappointed. Given that the club has had a horrible Premier League season, Arteta believes that now is the time for massive renovation at Emirates, admitting that it will be a long road before Arsenal can catch up to Chelsea, Liverpool, and the two Manchester clubs.
Fans do not feel reassured by such statements and are clamoring for an Arsene Wenger comeback. However, Arteta believes that bolstering the club with a new left-back, right-back, attacking-midfield, and a goalie will elevate them to where they need to be next season.
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