Mikel Arteta receives Arsenal sack warning

Cameron Smith

19 May 2025 00:00 CDT
4 min read

Paul Merson has warned Mikel Arteta that he will be sacked if he is unable to guide Arsenal to a major trophy next season.

The Gunners confirmed a third consecutive second-place Premier League finish thanks to a 1-0 win over Newcastle United on Sunday, but Arteta’s side were once again left empty-handed after another trophyless campaign.

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Arsenal won the 2023 Community Shield final against Manchester City, but they are without a major trophy since their FA Cup triumph in 2020 and Merson believes a change of manager could be in store if Arteta is unable to end Arsenal’s lengthy drought.

“I think Arteta has got until Christmas,” Merson told Sky Sports. “They will have to be in the top two at Christmas to keep on going [with Arteta].”

When asked if Arteta must deliver a trophy next season, Merson replied: “Yeah I think so. You can’t get to four [years without a trophy].

“Everybody wants to play for Arsenal, people will come to Arsenal, so it’s not like they’re scratching to get players and they’ve got the money.

“For me, yeah, next year he’s got to be in the top two by Christmas or they’ll go for someone else.

“When it’s your time, you’ve got to make it count… I just think they have to make it count and I think this is the last year.”

Arsenal under Mikel Arteta

Arteta boasts the best win percentage of any permanent Arsenal manager in history (59.2%) and he has transformed them into regular challengers at the sharp end of the Premier League table since his arrival.

However, the Gunners have spent €791.8 million on new signings during his five-and-a-half year tenure and they only have one major trophy to show for it.

With a number of expensive reinforcements set to join the club this summer, Arteta will be expected to end Arsenal’s trophy drought next season and Merson believes he could be fired if he fails to achieve this goal.

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