By Vera Chinonso Aliyu and Ada Obeleagu, YeyeNews.com, November 23, 2021
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta is surprised that the club is yet to sack him, a source very close to the ex footballer has revealed to YeyeNews.com. The source alleged that Arteta was expecting his sack following Manchester United’s decision to part ways with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but was surprised that Arsenal left him on the job. “He had already made up his mind that he would be sacked after the 4 – 0 defeat to Liverpool. He had even rehearsed his farewell speech. But surprisingly the sack never came so he will continue on the job”.
When asked if he thinks Arsenal is trying to repay Arteta for his fidelity to the club as a player, the source said he doesn’t believe that is the case. “I think it has to do with ambition. Arsenal Football Club has no ambition to win trophies. Look at Chelsea and United and you will understand what I am saying. Despite qualification for the Champions league the clubs still fired Lampard and Solskjaer. Or weren’t Lampard and Solskjaer great legends of Chelsea and Manchester United respectively? But the difference is that those clubs are driven by the burning desire to add trophies to their cabinets”.
With the continued stay of Arteta as Arsenal’s coach, some of the club’s fans in Nigeria have started speculating that the club director may be collecting a percentage of Arteta’s salary. An Arsenal fan in Abuja Aliyu Dongo wondered how Arteta is still left in the club despite failing to qualify the club for any European competition, something that hasn’t happened in long time. “Arsenal club is absent in Europe. Even the low tier Europa Conference League did not even see the club fit to be given a place to compete. Do they want Arteta to take the club to relegation before they will fire him?”, Dongo retorted.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta has appealed with the fans to have patience with him. He assured that they will work hard to qualify the club for the Europa League next season and that a ‘top 4’ position will be an icing on the cake.
