Arsenal are currently five points off relegation
For the first time in his short time as Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta’s job security has come under serious scrutiny. A 1-0 loss at home to Burnley and a moment of unfathomable headloss from Granit Xhaka capped off a dark day for the Gunners, who now linger in 15th. They have lost seven games out of 12 in the Premier League, scored two goals fewer than Fulham, and look bereft of ideas.
Questions are now being asked about Arteta’s plans for the club. Where did the momentum gained in last season’s cup run go? Where is the side that beat Liverpool in the Community Shield? Why do the same, underperforming players keep getting picked? Why did the club sign Willian? Is Bellerin still good? Is relegation a possibility?
But Arteta’s job appears safe, for now. Arsenal’s technical director and former midfielder Edu Gaspar has backed the coach to enjoy a “beautiful future” at the club, while lashing out at fans who have valid complaints about recent performances.
“Arteta is doing a great job,” Edu said.
“We are in the process to have a beautiful future with Mikel.
“If you can sign 20 players, which we’re not going to do, that’s not going to work anyway.
“Why people expect a magician to go ‘Boom! Come here, Messi’? That’s not going to happen.”
Edu also said 32-year-old Willian who had played for Chelsea for seven years before joining Arsenal in the summer “needs time” to settle before he can hit top form.
“If people say that he’s not a good footballer then maybe they don’t know football,” he jibed.
“Because he has always performed at the top, top level. Then he moved.
“For me, Willian is a question of time to be performing how we know he can.
“What do you expect? Do you expect it straight away? Boom! Willian can be the best one? But he needs a little bit of time, it’s strange as well to say that but you need time to know the players who you are going to play with.”
“Players need time to understand how to train, how to work with the people, to understand a lot of things and I told him that I know that and I hope that people from outside understand that as well.”
