Thierry Henry has joined the list of pundits to share their take on Arsenal’s trophyless season as he insists Mikel Arteta should be doing better with the club and challenging more robustly for silverware.
Henry believes fans have a right to question the manager after three seasons of being second-best – and five without a proper trophy.
Arteta was appointed as Arsenal manager in December 2019 but has only lifted one competitive trophy – the FA Cup in that first season – and two Community Shields.
Though they’ve finished the last three second best in the league, Henry has weighed in and made a pointed remark with Manchester United, who are still reaching and winning finals despite their almighty slump.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during a training session at Emirates Stadium. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
‘I’m not saying that I’m disappointed with Arsenal, but it’s normal that people are raising questions now about what the team is doing,’ Henry told the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
‘I understand that at the very beginning [for Mikel Arteta] you arrive and it’s not your team, you need at the very least three or four transfer windows to change everything that you want to.
‘It takes time and you have to give a manager time to be able to implement what he wants to do.
‘Now, for the last three years Arsenal have been in a situation where they should have at least brought one cup in or a final.
‘Manchester United have played in five finals in the last five years, the United that everyone laughs at, whereas for Arsenal in the last three years of building, they’ve not reached a final.
‘So, I do understand when people ask the question, “Surely you should compete for a trophy?”
Arsenal have performed brilliantly since Arteta took over at the club but have failed to deliver when it matters most.
Twice they have come close to winning the Premier League – last season they finished on 89 points, which would have been enough this time – and this campoaign they reached the semi-finals of the Champions League after thrashing Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate.
However, more pressure will be on Arteta next season as he will be tasked with winning a major trophy rather than securing Champions League football.
