Arsenal sent Arteta sack warning if Gunners bottle PL title after Man Utd, Chelsea mistakes

Arsenal legend Ray Parlor has warned his ex-club against sacking head coach Mikel Arteta if they fail to win the Premier League this season.

The 2025/26 campaign will likely prove to be a defining season for Arteta and Arsenal as they really need to end their prolonged trophy drought this season.

There really is no more excuse for Arsenal as they have arguably the best team in the Premier League and Europe after spending an extra £250 million on signings during last summer’s transfer window.

The Gunners have shown clear signs of nervousness in recent weeksbut they are five points clear at the top of the Premier League, having played a game more than Man City. They also reached the Carabao Cup final, while remaining in contention for the Champions League and FA Cup.

It has been suggested that Arteta risks losing his job if Arsenal fail to win the Premier League and/or Champions League, but Parlor has warned them against copying Man Utd and Chelsea.

“If they don’t win the title, of course Mikel Arteta is going to be under a lot of pressure,” Parlor told BetMGM.

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“They have a golden chance to win a first title since 2004, but I look at the current generation of managers and is there anyone who would do a better job?

“If they replace him and the next season starts badly then everyone will wonder why they sacked him. So do they change managers again and suddenly you end up with a Chelsea or Manchester United situation?

“I look at these two clubs, absolutely huge clubs in their own right, and for years now they have been struggling to get the right person through the door who can get them to challenge for titles and trophies again.

“Arteta has a great squad of players now and the board trusts him, but at the end of the day football is about winning. You don’t get a prize for finishing second.”

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Parlor also backed the Arsenal board to ‘agree’ with his stance on Arteta’s future.

“I remember Arsene Wenger would throw his medal in the trash if we finished second – he did it once against Liverpool in the Cup and it really stuck with me,” Parlor added.

“People might remember the game, but they don’t remember who came second and, in all honesty, you might as well be knocked out in the first round. Second place isn’t good enough for clubs like Arsenal, especially in the position they find themselves in.

“There is no doubt that if they don’t win the Premier League title or the Champions League there will be huge pressure on him – but I don’t think they will sack him even if they don’t win either trophy.

“If that happens, I expect the board will look around and consider that Mikel is still the best man for the job. I don’t see a better candidate at the moment and I think the Arsenal hierarchy will agree.”

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