Arteta’s two mistakes in two games threaten to Gunners’ season

MIKEL ARTETA is used to being questioned in the Arsenal hot seat.

From when he first took over – back in December 2019 – to those two eighth-placed Premier League finishes, there were those who asked if he was the right man for the job.

And then, at the end of 2021/22 campaign having narrowly missed out on the top four, there were those who asked if he could transform the Gunners into title challengers.

Those questions have since been answered, but now there is a fresh query: is Arteta able to get Arsenal over the line in the biggest moments in the hunt for major titles?

The last week has thrown doubt into the equation once again, with the North London club’s season hanging by a thread.

In fact, by Sunday, Arsenal’s hopes and dreams of lifting silverware could be all but over.

Salvaging a 2-2 draw in their Champions League quarter final first leg against Bayern Munich last Tuesday was followed by yesterday’s potentially fatal 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa.

Defeat to Bayern in Munich on Wednesday and then failing to beat Wolves at Molineux on Saturday night will leave Arteta’s Prem and European title surge in tatters.

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson, acting as a Sky Sports pundit at the Emirates for Villa’s impressive victory, said the pressure was starting to get to Arteta after suggesting the Spaniard got it wrong with his tactical tweaks, including dropping Jorginho to the bench.

Merson said: “This is what happens. Pressure gets to everybody, not just to the players but the managers. That’s where you need a Pep Guardiola, who just keeps cool.

“The pressure tells in the end.”

Arteta has got most of his big decisions at Arsenal spot on.

Getting rid of bad eggs like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi.