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Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has expressed concerns over the long-term future of manager Mikel Arteta at the club, suggesting that the Spaniard may be nearing the end of his tenure at the Emirates.
Arteta, now in his fifth full season in charge, appears on course for a third consecutive second-place finish in the Premier League, trailing behind Liverpool. Despite achieving Arsenal’s two highest points totals since the Invincibles season, the Gunners have struggled to capitalise on City’s inconsistencies this term. A 12-point gap to league leaders Liverpool with nine games remaining has left their title hopes hanging by a thread.
While Arsenal remain in contention for Champions League glory, with Real Madrid standing in their way in the quarter-finals, Petit believes Arteta is finding it increasingly difficult to mask his frustrations.
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The former French international, who won the Premier League and FA Cup double under Arsène Wenger in 1998, feels Arteta’s energy is fading and that the club’s repeated shortcomings in pivotal moments stem from squad limitations rather than managerial decisions.
Mikel Arteta (Image credit: Getty Images)“Arsenal lost the plot in the Premier League having been fighting with Liverpool, the West Ham game at home looked difficult to accept for him,” Petit told YaySweepstakes. “He’s going into his sixth full season as Arsenal manager, and he has my full respect for the transformation he has brought to the club. The mentality, the DNA, and the identity on and off the pitch have all improved.”
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“But we are reaching the end of his story at Arsenal. The energy is no longer there, and something is missing—not through his fault, but because he lacks the right squad to execute his ideas.”
Petit also pointed to Arsenal’s struggles when key players like William Saliba were absent, referencing last season’s title collapse as an example of their lack of squad depth.
“When Saliba was missing in the title race (in 2022-23), Arsenal lacked the options to sustain their momentum. The story keeps repeating itself. It’s not just about Arteta—he and his staff have done well—but without the right tools, fighting for the title remains difficult.”
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