Former Arsenal defender William Gallas believes manager Mikel Arteta has failed at the club so far and believes he can have no excuses this season if he doesn’t make the Champions League.
The Gunners narrowly missed Champions League qualifiers last season, but did so in an extremely disappointing way by throwing out a great position with three games left and allowing arch-rival Tottenham to take fourth place.
Arteta had to settle for the fifth and the Europa Leaguewhich is significant progress from eighth place he managed the season before, but Gallas says it’s still not enough.
The Frenchman played for Arsenal from 2006 to 10 and played all four seasons with the club in the Champions League. table.
Now in charge since December 2019 and with many of his own signings – including Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City this summer – Gallas says Arteta produces a lot but has failed so far.
“For me he failed last season because he didn’t qualify for the… Champions League† That’s the minimum for Arsenalwith Arsenal’s story, they have to play the Champions League,” Gallas told Metro.co.uk for Genting Casino.
“It didn’t happen, they didn’t qualify, so this season they will focus again on the Premier League, the FA Cup, the Carabao cup. I know he won the FA Cup in 2020 and the Community Shield, but it’s not enough for a big club like Arsenal, so for me he failed.
“He’s still the manager of Arsenal, but if I think if he doesn’t start the season well, he might be in trouble.
“Now that he has bought Gabriel Jesus and other players, he has no excuse if he doesn’t start well or doesn’t qualify for the Champions League, he can’t have any excuses.”
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