LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP)— Mikel Arteta remains resolute in the face of mounting adversity, insisting that Arsenal will rally from their current slump despite a series of setbacks that have put their season in jeopardy.
The Gunners suffered another agonizing 1-0 loss, this time to Inter Milan in the Champions League, a result that added to their recent string of poor performances. Despite dominating large stretches of the game, Arsenal’s inability to convert chances and a controversial penalty in stoppage time left them empty-handed.
The penalty, awarded for a handball by Mikel Merino, was converted by Hakan Calhanoglu, and despite Arsenal’s persistent pressure, they could not find an equalizer. The defeat came on the heels of another narrow 1-0 loss to Newcastle in the Premier League, leaving the Gunners with only two wins from their last six matches in all competitions.
In addition to their struggles on the pitch, Arsenal are facing a more profound crisis off it. Arteta’s side are currently languishing in fifth place in the Premier League, trailing Liverpool by seven points. Their challenges have been exacerbated by injuries to key players like Martin Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Jurrien Timber. The absence of Ødegaard, in particular, has been felt as the team has lacked the creativity and energy that made them title contenders last season.
Arsenal’s troubles were compounded further when sporting director Edu resigned earlier this week, just months after overseeing a significant squad overhaul. Edu, who has been a close ally of Arteta, is set to join Nottingham Forest in a similar role, marking the end of an era for the club.
Arteta has been vocal in his defense of his players, emphasizing that refereeing decisions, rather than poor performance, played a significant role in their latest defeat. He praised the team’s performance against one of Europe’s top clubs, despite the result. “If we play like this, we have a big chance of winning at Chelsea,” Arteta insisted, maintaining his optimism.
However, with Arsenal’s season hanging by a thread, Arteta’s belief in a turnaround will be tested in their upcoming London derby against Chelsea. Another defeat would leave Arsenal with even fewer hopes of challenging for the title, as they are already well behind defending champions Manchester City.
With a pivotal weekend ahead, Arteta’s leadership and Arsenal’s resilience will be under intense scrutiny, as the Gunners search for a way to reverse their fortunes and salvage their campaign.
