Arsenal: 5 reasons Mikel Arteta should not be sacked

Arsenal: 5 reasons Mikel Arteta should not be sacked – yet

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta on the sidelines during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on August 28, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 19: Thomas Partey of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on May 19, 2021 in London, United Kingdom. A limited number of fans will be allowed into Premier League stadiums as Coronavirus restrictions begin to ease in the UK following the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /

4. Arteta Has Yet to Field His Strongest Side

Arsenal’s strongest lineup: Leno; Chambers, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Aubameyang

The above is the strongest lineup Arteta can field at this moment in time. It’s hoped before the deadline closes that Chambers can make way for a new right-back – which would genuinely transform build-up play and progression were the right signing to be made – and not once has it been fielded.

This summer has been ongoing with the aim of making the above team as strong as it can be with the players in reserve to fill in more adequately than the likes of Mohamed Elneny and Dani Ceballos.

Realistically, only two (three counting Odegaard) of the positions in the starting lineup will be new players but it builds on from the form demonstrated in the second half of last season.

If this team, with the right combination of off-the-ball leaders, technical flexibility in attack, defensive organisation and progression through the thirds still bears no fruit then the curtain must be drawn.

We haven’t seen that team play once.

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