Five mind-boggling Mikel Arteta blunders that could see him sacked by Arsenal

Mikel Arteta has made numerous errors since taking the reins from Unai Emery at Arsenal in December 2019.

His side continued their dismal start to the season on Sunday with a 2-0 defeat against Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea, thanks to goals from Romelu Lukaku and Reece James.

The loss means the Gunners have worryingly fallen into the relegation zone and Arteta is under immense pressure to prove he is the right man to take the club forward.

But time is running out for the Arsenal boss and things are not getting any easier, with a trip to Manchester to face the Premier League champions next up on Saturday.

With that in mind, Daily Star Sport takes you through five mind-boggling Arteta blunders that could see him sacked by Arsenal…

1. Signing Pablo Mari and Cedric on permanent deals

Signing the duo on a permanent basis was a strange decision made by Arteta, and is a sign of just how far the club have fallen in recent times.

Spanish defender Mari has failed to prove himself in the Premier League and was bullied by Lukaku all game on Sunday, while Cedric remains unconvincing in an Arsenal shirt.

The Portuguese right-back didn’t feature at all against Brentford, but the 29-year-old struggled to contain Reece James against Chelsea at the weekend.

2. Sending Saliba out on loan TWICE and sticking with Holding and Mari

The signing of Saliba is one of the most curious signings in the post Arsene Wenger era.

The French centre-back was brought in for £27million from Saint-Etienne two years ago, but is yet to make his Arsenal debut.

The 20-year-old has been sent out on loan once again this season – this time to Marseille, and it remains unclear if Saliba will ever get an opportunity to impress at the Emirates.

Instead, Arteta has opted to select Rob Holding and Mari ahead of the talented French defender who is desperate for a chance.

3. Giving Xhaka a new contract

The Swiss midfielder was given a new contract by the club last week to end any transfer speculation linking him with a move away from Arsenal.

The 28-year-old has extended his volatile stay in north London, which has seen him tell his own fans to “f*** off” after being jeered as he was substituted against Crystal Palace in 2019.

Even though he is not the captain anymore, Xhaka is not the kind of character who will bring the strong leadership qualities as an experienced head; one, that Arsenal crave in the dressing room.

4. Playing Aubameyang on the wing

Playing Arsenal’s best forward on the wing has been met with bemusement by many fans.

The 32-year-old is a proven goal scorer but is not performing at the level he is capable of while being played out of position.

Many have since called for the return of Aubameyang to a more familiar central role, while the Gabon international has previously insisted he’ll play where he’s needed.

"I play everywhere, I don't mind really, I really don't mind," Aubameyang told Arsenal's official matchday programme last November, when asked about his preferred position. "Everyone knows where I prefer to play but this doesn't matter because I prefer to have many options than just one.

"I want to help and I want to learn as well. Because you learn every day even if you are young or maybe older, but I'm still learning, and I feel good everywhere.”

5. Letting goalscoring midfielder Willock leave and not replacing him

Arsenal simply can’t seem to find the back of the net at the moment and have failed to score in any of their first two league games for the first time in their history.

The Gunners were the ninth lowest scorers in the Premier League in the previous campaign, scoring just 55 goals.

Joe Willock, who has departed the club for Newcastle this summer, was a goalscoring midfielder but Arteta took the decision to move the 22-year-old on without signing a direct replacement.

Willock scored eight goals in 14 Premier League appearances while on loan in the north east last season, however the Spanish boss has since deemed the youngster surplus to requirements.

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