Mikel Arteta warned Premier League failure will have 'long-term consequences' for Arsenal as Man City increase pressure ahead of top-of-the-table clash

Arsenal's suddenly precarious position has sparked fears of another collapse by Arteta's men. After finishing second in the Premier League in each of the last three seasons and there is growing belief that they will make it four in a row. Such a turn would surely see calls for Arteta to step down from his role despite the growth they have experienced under the Spanish coach.

Carragher has emphasised that the expectations for the current campaign have fundamentally shifted and that only a major trophy will justify Arteta's tactical evolution.

Writing in his Telegraph column, Carragher explained why the stakes have never been higher: "For Mikel Arteta, the implications of falling short will be more serious; the validity of his approach hinges entirely on whether he is a Premier League or European champion over the next two months. A triumph will render all criticism up to this point of his reign irrelevant and meaningless. Fall short, and the recovery period will be one of rancour and recrimination."

He added: "Arsenal fans will not like to hear it, but finishing second for the last three years represented success. Finishing second in 2026 will undoubtedly be a failure. This is supposed to be Arsenal’s time, but the final push to win a major trophy is always the toughest. Football is full of examples of teams who suffered a near miss and put on a positive spin about the next season. More often than not, that next step is backwards."

The former England international suggested that another season without a major trophy could erode the foundational trust between the manager and the Arsenal supporters. He noted that failing to capitalise on their current advantage would leave the coaching staff in a vulnerable position regarding future recruitment and tactics.

Reflecting on the potential for lasting consequences at the Emirates, Carragher added: "Psychologically, it would be tougher to recover this summer and there is a greater chance of longer-term consequences if trust in the manager begins to evaporate. Whether Arsenal get the job done this season or not, Arteta will be under the most severe pressure of his reign to have a tactical rethink over the summer.

"As a winner, he can do that by design and with absolute authority. If he and his players are licking their wounds once more, changes in tactics and personnel will be due to public demand and from a position of weakness."

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