Arsenal: Mikel Arteta can’t win against Norwich

It’s a must-win game. Nobody is in any doubts over the importance of the Premier League clash with Norwich as, after the start Arsenal have had, nothing else will suffice.

Mikel Arteta, however, can’t win. Not yet.

In a literal sense he can, so can Arsenal, but from the manager’s point of view this fixture isn’t a job-saving encounter that will absolve him of blame or reinvigorate the supporters who doubt him.

Overseeing three consecutive goalless defeats has placed even greater significance on the visit of the Canaries. Dicing with the sack on numerous occasions throughout his 20-month tenure, what may come at 5PM on Saturday could see him enter previously charted waters, only this time with a handful of sharks circling the boat.

Arsenal can win against Norwich in the Premier League but Mikel Arteta can’t as he has too long to go before he can earning praise again

Up until this point there are supporters who are either vehemently opposed to the idea of the manager staying on, unconvinced he can turn this slump around, fearing any upturn in form will take too long or – there is a minority – those who feel the mitigation throughout his time in north London is defence for the results.

There is no amount of excuses or justification to clean Arteta’s slate. He has to win football matches immediately or be sacked. That is the bottom line. Arsenal are currently bottom of the table.

Should Arsenal secure three points against the Canaries and even do so in a convincing manner it will not constitute a victory for Arteta. He may walk into the conference room post-game praising the professionalism and work ethic of his side for bagging the first win of the season, but he won’t have won.

Arsenal are supposed to beat Norwich. This is the part of the McDonalds job interview where the recruiter doesn’t feel the need to tell you not to stick your hand into the fryer. Nobody has to tell the manager of Arsenal Football Club to beat newly promoted sides on home soil.

At home with the eighth most expensive squad in world football off the back of six new additions for a £150m total, there is no comparison between the teams. Arsenal have a stronger group of individuals than Norwich; they have more quality in their starting lineup; and they haven’t just come up from the Championship.

The path leading up until this point ensures that there is no conceivable way for Arteta to ‘win’. Not until he governs a run of form over the coming weeks can opinion forcefully shift. As previously mentioned, this isn’t a make or break game as while it has all the potential to break, it will not make anything.

It can only save, briefly.

In the era of questionable non-negotiables, three points in the Premier League on Saturday is the club and supporter’s demand of the manager. Faith in the manager can only be restored over time, not in a single 90 minutes. Win for the team and, only then, can we start looking ahead at what Arteta might achieve.