Arteta ‘failure’ warning fired as Arsenal handed timely Premier League reminder

Arsenal are currently six points clear at the top of the Premier League table and are in a strong position to end their long wait for a top-flight title

Jermaine Pennant believes it will be a disaster for Mikel Arteta if Arsenal don’t win any trophies this season.

The Spaniard has steered the north London side to a six-point advantage over closest rivals Manchester City, in what appears to be their best opportunity to end their drought and reclaim their place at the top of English football.

Despite suffering a setback against reigning champions Liverpool in the opening weeks of the season, Arsenal have taken advantage of their title competitors’ wobble to establish a seven-point cushion over Arne Slot’s side and open up daylight between themselves and Pep Guardiola’s serial trophy collectors.

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The Gunners still have a substantial portion of the campaign remaining and continue their quest for additional glory across the Carabao Cup, Champions League, and FA Cup.

However, for both the club and their manager, they have ended up as bridesmaid in each of the previous three campaigns – missing out to Man City on two occasions before squandering their chance to exploit their rivals’ decline, which permitted the Dutch mastermind, Slot, to secure a Premier League crown in his maiden season.

Pennant thinks Arsenal hold all the cards but acknowledges the title race remains wide open.

He exclusively told football.london, via NewBettingOffers.co.uk: “They’re 10 games in, there’s another 28 games to go, there’s only one team that’s done the invincible, no other team has done it because it isn’t easy.

“There will come a point where they may drop points. Maybe not lose, but pick up a draw at some tricky places, it’s all to play for. Yes, they are in the driving seat, they probably are the favourites at the moment but there’s some big games that they will have to play and conquer.

“I wouldn’t say there will be a blip but I can’t see Arsenal going 38 games without dropping points, it’s up to the rest to capitalise when they do. All it takes is one dodgy result, one dodgy result, after Christmas and January when it starts to really matter, if you drop points, all of a sudden there could be three in it.

“For example, Man City are only six points behind, if Arsenal were to drop points, and they will, if they were to lose that one game and Man City win, it’s only three points then it’s all to play for. They have to play each other again, they have to go to the Etihad. There’s so much to play for. There will come to a point where Arsenal drop points, it’s about if the teams are there to catch that.”

Arteta’s time in charge at the Emirates Stadium has been measured by trophies won, with the Spanish boss having claimed the Community Shield and the FA Cup during his spell with the north London outfit.

Yet it will be approaching six years since their FA Cup triumph when the current campaign concludes in May. And the 42 year old reckons this campaign could be branded a disaster if they fail to get over the finishing line, stating: “If he doesn’t win silverware this year then yeah, you would say it’s been a failure.

“You can’t take away how good they have become. They are a fantastic team but you don’t become that after 10 games, you’re judged after 38 and in May, what have you won?

“It’s all good having the praise now but come the end of the season, what is in that cabinet? If there’s no silverware, the Arsenal fans, people may think it is a failure.”

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