‘Does Arteta really deserve more time?’ Souness slams mid-table Arsenal

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 1 min read

Graeme Souness has blasted Mikel Arteta and says that Arsenal are in danger of just becoming a perennial mid-table team.

The Gunners were one of England’s most dominant squads during the best years of Arsene Wenger’s long reign in north London.

However, the club have endured a sorry decline over the last decade and have failed to qualify for the Champions League for five years now.

Last season, Arteta’s Arsenal finished eighth in the Premier League – despite winning the FA Cup – and their league form has been even worse this time around.

They are currently in eleventh position in the table, with their top-four chances already looking all but over.

“Arsenal historically are one of the big guys that you’re always interested in – with the Champions League games in midweek and challenging for the Premier League,” Souness told Sky Sports.

“And right now they’re just mid-table and appear to be going nowhere – that’s how I’d describe them.

“I think it’s upsetting for Arsenal supporters. I don’t see any uplift with the new manager. I don’t see any obvious improvement.

“We keep talking about giving managers time and obviously he has some credit in the bank from winning the FA Cup but right now Arsenal for me are just treading water and don’t appear to be going one way or the other.

“Unless there’s a real change in form I think they’ll be a mid-table team.”

Arsenal host Leeds United on Sunday afternoon at the Emirates in what is a must-win game for Arteta.