Arteta 'may not be at Arsenal' next season with another Premier League title collapse

Suraj Radia

• 20 Feb 2026 06:46 GMT
• 4 min read

News

Mikel Arteta may not be in charge of Arsenal next season if his side’s title challenges falls short for a fourth consecutive season, according to Alan Shearer.

Arsenal have come under intense pressure after their draw to Wolves on Wednesday which has seen the Gunners win just two of their last seven Premier League matches.

Their lead at the top of the table has shrunk to five points, with second place Manchester City having a game in hand and both sides still yet to meet at the Etihad.

Arsenal have been favourites for the Premier League title at various points across the last three seasons but they have come runners up every time and Shearer believes a fourth failure could spell the end of Arteta’s tenure.

“If he doesn’t win the league he might not be at Arsenal,” Shearer said on The Rest Is Football Podcast. “After the chances they have had to win it and they have been second. With what they have spent on the players they have got at the positions they are in, they have to win it.

“Mentally maybe [the Champions League] would be an easier barrier to get over to win that rather than then Premier League because of what has happened to them in the Premier League.”

Arteta will be judged on ‘the football he plays’ as well as results

Arteta has dramatically improved Arsenal’s fortunes since taking over as manager in 2019 when the club were 10th in the league but, despite the progress, his side have won just one major trophy in that time.

Only two teams – Manchester United and Chelsea – have a higher net spend than Arsenal during Arteta’s tenure and there has been added frustration from some due to the Gunners also displaying a less attractive brand of football this season.

Failing to win the Premier League for the fourth successive year while also playing ‘protective’ football could also compound the misery on Arteta, according to Micah Richards on the podcast.

Richards said: “You have got a manager who wants to protect [Arteta] and a manager who wants to win [Pep Guardiola]. That is going to be what it will be until the end of the season. Who is going to outdo each other in their tactics?

“When Arteta first started at Arsenal, the football he played was sensational, the passing, the speed from back to front. There is nothing wrong with being a [Jose] Mourinho up against Pep.

“This notion you have to play this amazing football, Pep is the best at doing that, so you have to adapt. Arteta has had to adapt his football to get results, the problem is if he doesn't win the league at the end of it he will be judged for the football he plays. He has to get over the line for his own sake.”

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