Arsenal’s pursuit of the Premier League title under Mikel Arteta has become a story of near misses, heartbreak, and frustration. Despite heavy financial backing, squad reinforcements, and moments of brilliance, the Gunners have consistently fallen short when it mattered most. The question now is simple: if Arsenal once again fail to win the league in the 2025/26 season, should Arteta be shown the exit door?
A Record of Falling Short
Arteta has now been at Arsenal long enough for his tenure to be judged on results rather than potential. The closest the club has come to winning the league in recent years was during back-to-back campaigns where they looked set to end their long drought, only to bottle it at the final hurdle. Twice they lost ground to Manchester City, despite being in pole position. Then, last season, when many believed the title was finally Arsenal’s for the taking, Liverpool emerged to snatch it away while the Gunners settled for yet another second-place finish.
This pattern has made finishing second synonymous with Arsenal under Arteta. It reflects not only a lack of finishing power but also a recurring mental block when the pressure reaches its peak.
The Mentality Question
Winning the Premier League is not just about tactics or technical brilliance—it demands mental fortitude. Champions find ways to win even when they are not at their best. Liverpool recently demonstrated this against Arsenal. Despite being second best for most of the game, they walked away with all three points thanks to their ability to seize the decisive moments.
This is where Arsenal continue to fall short. They dominate possession, control games, and often play the better football, but when it comes to getting results against direct rivals like Liverpool or Manchester City, they stumble. Until Arteta finds a way to instill a killer instinct into his squad, the dream of lifting the Premier League trophy will remain elusive.
Investment Without Reward
Arteta cannot be accused of lacking support. The Arsenal board has backed him with the signings he desired, giving him the financial muscle to build a squad in his image. Yet, despite this investment, the results remain the same: promise, progress, and ultimately, disappointment.
At some point, the question must be asked—if the tools are there and the backing is unquestionable, is the manager himself the problem?
The Harsh Reality
Football is ultimately a results-driven business. If Arsenal finish second once again in the 2025/26 season, it will be hard to justify keeping Arteta. After years of opportunities, near misses, and heartbreak, the argument that he is building for the future will no longer hold. Arsenal fans deserve more than being nearly men—they deserve champions.
Conclusion
If Arsenal fail to win the Premier League this season, Arteta’s position should come under serious scrutiny. Another second-place finish, no matter how respectable, would confirm that he lacks the mentality and tactical sharpness to take Arsenal over the line.
The Gunners must then make a tough decision: continue with a manager who has raised standards but can’t deliver the ultimate prize, or bring in someone with the mentality to finally restore Arsenal to Premier League glory.
Because in football, second place is not good enough.