Arsenal board could already have Mikel Arteta sack planned with replacement ‘shortlisted’

Arsenal: Arteta defiant about future amid doubts

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Arsenal saw their season stoop to a new low under Mikel Arteta on Thursday night. The Gunners were knocked out of the Europa League by Villarreal, failing to score during a dull draw at the Emirates Stadium. And it seems as though they’ve already started planning for life without the Spaniard, with Paulo Fonseca admired behind the scenes.

Arsenal went into the match against Villarreal knowing one goal would be enough to fire them through to the Europa League final.

But Arteta’s side put in a flat and lacklustre display at the Emirates Stadium, crashing out of the competition in the process.

It was a night of few positives for Arsenal, even if they had more shots and more of the ball.

And, in the aftermath, Arteta has come under fire.

Things seemed to be getting better under the Spaniard when he guided them to the FA Cup and Community Shield trophies last year.

But Arsenal have endured a nightmare season in practically every competition and currently sit 10th in the Premier League table.

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To put that into perspective, even sides such as Leicester, West Ham and Everton are above them in the standings – despite lacking the same financial muscle.

Arteta is facing a huge fight to keep his job, especially with patience among both fans and players starting to wear thin.

And, before the match against the La Liga side, it emerged the Gunners were already planning for life without the 39-year-old at the helm.

Tuttomercatoweb revealed that Roma boss Fonseca had been shortlisted behind the scenes at the Emirates Stadium.

He’ll be available at the end of the campaign, with it already established Jose Mourinho will be his successor over at the Stadio Olimpico come the start of next season.

And Arsenal can certainly be forgiven for looking in his direction, with life under Arteta so bad.

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In the past, when the Gunners have struggled, their entertaining and enterprising style of play has been a shining light.

But this Arsenal are awful on the eye, too, often plodding along matches without any serious intent.

Arteta’s decision-making, too, has been scrutinised.

Taking off Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang against Villarreal was a shocking call, with the Gabon international their best performer on the night – hitting the woodwork twice.

And throwing on Willian as a replacement was shambolic, with the Brazil international enduring a wretched campaign since arriving from Chelsea.

Meanwhile, speaking after the Europa League exit to Villarreal, Martin Keown slammed Arsenal for their poor display.

“I think just four (shots on target) in both ties. Villarreal controlled the tactics, Emery I thought was too smart for Arteta,” he said.

“Hugely disappointing, they were nervous, tentative, the performance wasn’t there and we shouldn’t be surprised, when we look at the Premier League position, ninth in the table, 19 goals scored here from 17 home matches.

“It’s been a roller coaster season and inconsistency is rife through the group.”

“I think the manager comes under enormous pressure. You start to look at the wisdom of a young manager coming here to take a huge job, a massive job at this football club.

“His inexperience, maybe, has cost him. He’s still here as manager, we’ll have to wait and see what happens on that.

“It seemed to me, though, that this was the rescue package tonight and it didn’t arrive, the team didn’t turn up, whether it was the motivation, the tactics – he was outsmarted by the previous manager which is also a bit of an embarrassment for the owners.

“Both games, the false nine and today when we changed our midfield completely and it looked like it was brand new to us, it didn’t look like we had the experience to adapt, to change.

“We looked lost. They engaged us high up the pitch, we couldn’t get out, we looked a bit nervy, and it allowed them to play and be comfortable.

“That’s the thing, we haven’t really laid a glove on them, we haven’t gone down fighting. If this stadium was full, they wouldn’t be allowed to get away with that.

“They almost seemed prepared to let the game glow away, I think it does come from the manager, he gives the tactics at the start, it’s the base for the players to play from.”

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