Alan Shearer believes Mikel Arteta could lose his job at Arsenal should the club finish as runners-up for a fourth successive season.
The former Premier League striker made the stark assessment following the Gunners’ capitulation against bottom-of-the-table Wolves on Wednesday evening.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, the Match of the Day pundit declared: “If he doesn’t win the league, he might not be at Arsenal.”
Shearer elaborated on his reasoning, stating: “Because after the chances they have had to win it, and with what they have spent on the players that they’ve got, and the position they are still in, they have to win it.”
The comments came after Arsenal surrendered a two-goal advantage at Molineux, drawing 2-2 with the relegation-threatened hosts.
Bukayo Saka had given Arsenal an early lead inside five minutes, with Piero Hincapie extending their advantage shortly after the hour mark.
Hugo Bueno pulled one back for Rob Edwards’ side with an impressive curling strike in the 61st minute, though a comeback still appeared unlikely.
Arsenal were 2-0 up before crashing to a 2-2 draw with Wolves | PA
However, deep into stoppage time, disaster struck for the visitors when Gabriel and goalkeeper David Raya became entangled at the back, allowing the ball to fall to Tom Edozie on the edge of the area.
The winger’s shot deflected off Riccardo Calafiori and into the net to complete a remarkable turnaround.
The result marked an unwanted piece of Premier League history, becoming the first occasion a league-leading side had dropped points from a two-goal advantage against a team in the relegation zone.
Five things to know about Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta | PA/GETTY
Gary Lineker offered a potential lifeline for the Spanish manager, suggesting: “Unless they win the Champions League for the first time in their history.”
The presenter questioned whether Arsenal might be better equipped for European competition given their recent domestic struggles, asking if their Champions League prospects offered a more favourable path.
Shearer appeared to agree with this assessment, responding: “Mentally maybe it would be, well not easier, but mentally an easier barrier to get over to go and win that than it is to win the Premier League because of what’s happened to them in the Prem.”
Arsenal’s European campaign has been exceptional, with the north London club securing a flawless record of eight victories from eight matches during the Champions League league phase.
Their domestic form tells a starkly different story, with Arsenal managing just two victories in their previous seven league fixtures.
Mikel Arteta cut a frustrated figure as Arsenal drew with Wolves | PA
Despite sitting at the summit, the Gunners have accumulated only 58 points after 27 matches, making them the weakest league leaders in a decade.
The last time a top-placed team had such a modest tally at this stage was Leicester City during their remarkable 2015/16 title triumph, while Liverpool boasted six additional points at the same juncture last season.
Manchester City now have the chance to reduce Arsenal’s five-point cushion to just two when they play on Saturday.
Micah Richards warned that Arteta’s pragmatic approach and reliance on set pieces could ultimately work against him, noting: “If he doesn’t win the league at the end of it, he’s going to be judged for the football that he plays.”
