Arsenal were left frustrated in the title race after collapsing in their bid to catch Liverpool, who are now 15 points ahead of them in the Premier League, heaping pressure on manager Mikel Arteta
Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta faces the sack if he cannot bring success to the club next season. The Gunners have fallen short in the Premier League title race once again after falling far behind Arne Slot's Liverpool this season.
Arsenal are currently 15 points behind their rivals in the table to cap off a disappointing campaign. They also exited the Champions League at the semi-final stage to PSG, despite beating Real Madrid in the previous round.
There has been huge frustration from the fanbase that the club have fallen short yet again, particularly towards the ownership after failing to sign a reliable goalscorer in either transfer window.
Arsenal have struggled this season amid a crippling injury crisis that has left them without main forwards Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, which has contributed to their title collapse.
But Carragher believes another season without significant progress or a trophy could spell the end for Arteta after coming agonisingly close to success in recent years.
Writing in his Daily Telegraph column, he said: "To say his next transfer window might be the last chance sounds extreme. Arteta has so much credit in the bank, it is fair and right there is more resistance to managerial change at Arsenal than desire for it.
"But no one understands better than him that all the goodwill for creating an Arsenal team capable of winning is gone.
"Arteta must deliver next season, otherwise his legacy will be years of groundwork for the benefit of a successor who will be asked to add the finishing touches."
Arsenal have been linked with a number of forwards this summer, including Alexander Isak, Ollie Watkins, Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres.
But Carragher feels they lack a "creative spark" in addition to a "prolific no 9", saying they finished runners up to Liverpool because they are not the "complete package".
"The reason Arsenal are granting rather than receiving a guard of honour on Sunday is because they are not the complete package," he went on. "Out of possession they are the best side in the country, but they lack a creative spark with the ball.
It is not as simple as saying ‘they need a prolific number nine ’. Liverpool do not have such a player – neither do Paris St-Germain – even if Slot obviously has an outstanding goalscorer in Mohamed Salah. Arsenal have scored only one more league goal than Tottenham Hotspur. That is not going to win you a big trophy."
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