After Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal lost against North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in last May, all of their UEFA Champions League hopes went down the drain in great fashion.
The Gunners were five points clear with three games in hand. But they lost the lead as well as a chance to be a part of the UEFA Champions League after 2017. The dismal faith in the club sparked a number of predictions regarding the future of Arsenal as well as Mikel Arteta.
Football Pundits started casting doubt about whether Arteta should continue with the Gunners or not. And the experts were concerned whether Mikel Arteta would be able to oversee the huge task of trying to get those same players to put the disastrous end to the campaign behind them in time for the next term.
When Arsenal lost at the St. James’ Park from Newcastle United, the Sky Sports duo of Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher were present at the venue. They witnessed the whole fixture and then discussed the long-term problems of the loss.
What were the words of Sky Sports Pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville about Mikel Arteta and Arsenal?
“They are not in the best four sides in the country but they had an advantage on the other teams and they still haven’t made it. I do really fear for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta next season, that’s a really bad one tonight.” Said former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher.
Neville echoed similar sentiments, adding: “It’s a bad one. I remember United losing that Europa League final against Villarreal and thinking it was more than just a defeat in the final.”
But Mikel Arteta’s Gunners are showing no signs of last season’s emotional hangover. This season, they’re at the top of the English Premier League while the favourites, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are in the second number.
They also defeated Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in two consecutive weeks. While they suffered a loss against Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United. But they’ve shown a spark this season, and they’re the title contenders after years of despair.
