Ian McGarry has been speaking on the latest installment of the Transfer Window podcast, where he revealed the Arsenal hierarchy has no plans to relieve Mikel Arteta of his duties.
Arteta replaced Unai Emery as the manager of the north London outfit in December 2019, winning the FA Cup in his first campaign in charge as the Spaniard made a solid start to his managerial career.
However, it’s been a tough season for the Gunners this time around, and a disappointing 2-1 aggregate defeat to Spanish outfit Villarreal in the Europa League semi-finals condemned the capital club to a first campaign without European football in 25 years.
The result has intensified the scrutiny surrounding Arteta at the Emirates Stadium, but McGarry has revealed Edu, the club’s sporting director, has no plans to dismiss the 39-year-old boss.
He said: (1:54) “It’s certainly information that I’ve been given that Edu, the man who has not been that long at the club as sporting director, is very much in Arteta’s corner.
“Not surprising as he was responsible for appointing him and is seeing definitely that he stays regardless of how they finish the season, not that there’s much of the season left to finish.
“And despite the fact that Arsenal will not play European football next season, and that will be the first time in a quarter of a century that they wouldn’t have done that.”
TIF Thoughts on Arteta…
For a club the size of Arsenal, with 13 English top flight titles to their name, it was always going to be a tough first job for any manager.
However, Arteta’s performance this campaign has been particularly alarming. His side are currently sitting in ninth position in the Premier League standings after losing a whopping 13 league games throughout 2020/21.
The jury may still be out on Arteta’s true potential as a manager, but you suspect he will have to improve on this season’s results and performances if he is to maintain the support from Edu and the board.
In other news: Exclusive: Rob Lee drops verdict on Newcastle’s chances of signing Joe Willock permanently