Martin Keown has warned Mikel Arteta he could be facing the sack after Arsenal threw away a lead against Slavia Prague in the Europa League.
Martin Keown has warned Mikel Arteta he’s making things difficult for himself after Arsenal threw away a lead against Slavia Prague in the Europa League.
The Gunners squandered their lead against Slavia Prague deep into stoppage time on Thursday.
Arsenal went ahead through Nicolas Pepe’s delicate dink with four minutes remaining but found themselves pegged back in the 93rd minute as Tomas Holes headed in. The game ended 1-1.
The last-gasp effort means Slavia Prague take an away goal into the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final. It also raises serious questions about the spirit and determination of Arsenal’s players.
Keown has warned that Arteta, who has made a lot of changes to his team at the Emirates this season, is in danger of being sacked if things continue to go against Arsenal.
Keown said on BT Sport: “Hugely disappointing and really it’s going to be difficult now for Arteta.
“He’s made a lot of changes at the football club, a lot of people have been allowed to go, and this is his team now, essentially.
“There have been a lot of problems at Arsenal over a number of years, certain players coming in and out at the football club, so it’s not all at his doorstep.”
“But he’s in charge now, and he’s not quite getting the reaction out of the team.”
“He was disappointed at the end there. He’s encouraging people to play, then at the end when he doesn’t want them to play, it’s a mixed message, isn’t it?
“They’ve got to do the right things at the right times and they’re making sloppy mistakes and it cost them tonight.”
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