Mikel Arteta still facing huge battle to win over Arsenal legend after ‘failure’ comment

Thierry Henry in profile

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta continues to face a battle to win over the club’s all-time leading goalscorer. Thierry Henry scored 228 goals across his two spells as an Arsenal player. And the Frenchman still holds the Gunners close to his heart.

Henry has been a critic of Arteta in the recent past, questioning the direction he is taking the club.

Arsenal have finished eighth in the two seasons under Arteta and failed to qualify for Europe last term for the first time in over 25 years.

Arteta’s side currently sit sixth in the Premier League, just four points off the top four.

Manchester United are fourth but the Gunners have three games in hand over the Red Devils.

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But Tottenham and West Ham are also set to be strong competition for the Champions League qualification places.

Henry claimed this week that failing to finish in the top four would be a failure for his former side this season.

“The best thing about Arsenal is that they didn’t play [last weekend],” Henry said on CBS Sports.

“West Ham didn’t take advantage of it. Tottenham has never taken advantage of it.

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“But Arsenal had to go and win at Wolves. That was a massive win, so there are still a lot of games to go.

“For me, if they don’t do it, as I said at the start of the season, then it will be a failure.”

Arsenal spent more than any other club in Europe last summer to enhance fans’ optimism heading into the campaign.

But they were unable to make any new signings in January to strengthen their top four hopes.

Last October, Henry claimed Arsenal did not have a plan B under Arteta in a clear dig at the Spaniard.

“I don’t know if things are going in the right direction,” Henry said at the Prime Video Presents Sport 2021 showcase event.

“I’ve seen us beating Norwich before, winning at Burnley, beating Tottenham at home – because we always beat Tottenham at home.

“I was more than happy when we beat Tottenham as we were on a good run but I was waiting to see a performance away from home, against a team that passes the ball.

“And, instead, we suffered [against Brighton].

“When we used to lose, even after I left the team, it was always said that Arsenal don’t have a Plan B and that they passed too much for the sake of passing.”

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