Arsenal board ‘unhappy with Mikel Arteta’ and put Paulo Fonseca on replacement shortlist

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Arsenal’s hierarchy are reportedly unhappy with Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard won the Community Shield at the start of the season, with many expecting them to finish in the Premier League top four. That hasn’t happened, however, with the Gunners instead enduring a rough season so far.

Arsenal hired Arteta as a replacement for Unai Emery last year.

He initially did well, guiding the club to FA Cup glory while also overseeing their Community Shield triumph over Liverpool.

But, ever since then, Arsenal have gone from bad to worse.

They currently sit 10th in the Premier League table and look poised to miss out on a place in next season’s Champions League, with their rivals all superior.

And, now, Tuttomercatoweb claim that the Arsenal hierarchy are unhappy with Arteta and the way their campaign has panned out under his watch.

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Now, consequently, they’re starting to think about another managerial change.

And it’s said that Roma boss Paulo Fonseca has been shortlisted as a potential candidate, with the 48-year-old highly-rated.

Roma could replace Fonseca with Maurizio Sarri, who remains out of work following his departure from Juventus last year.

And it’s stated the only way for Arteta to turn things around would be by winning the Europa League, with the Gunners due to face Villarreal in the semi-finals.

Arteta isn’t the only figure at Arsenal coming under fire.

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The supporters are enraged at Stan Kroenke for trying, and failing, to make them a founding member of a European Super League.

And Arteta, when quizzed on whether the Arsenal owner reaching out to fans would help build relations, said: “I don’t know if that will be the case.

“If we all feel that is necessary and will be helpful, I’m sure they will do anything it takes to bring the fans closer to them.

“If they get the opportunity to know them, I think most of them would be surprised.

“If that’s the case, I think that would benefit everybody at the football club. It would benefit the fans and it would bring a lot of clarity. So if there is a way to do that and it’s going to be helpful, let’s do it.”

Arteta also revealed Kroenke had apologised to him, saying: “We spoke to them and I think it was very clear they showed their commitment to the football club, and they showed their ambition.

“We all want a successful team on the pitch.

“It took any doubts out of the situation, now we have a very clear and committed statement from the ownership.

“I think it is gone when they said what they said last night and showed their commitment and desire to take the team where we all want.”

Arteta will go up against Emery on Thursday – and confirmed he spoke to his predecessor before taking charge of Arsenal.

“I spoke to him a few times, because we have people in common, and then I spoke with him before I took the club,” he said.

“He offered me that opportunity, which is sometimes unusual, and he was sincere and open. I was very grateful for that.

“He was really helpful and a very, very experienced manager, in the Europa League especially.

“There are no doubts he has the tools and the knowledge to manage at the top level.”

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