Simon Jordan is not convinced Mikel Arteta can win a Premier League title at Arsenal, claiming the Gunners boss ‘doesn’t have the specific equipment’ to take players to the ‘next level’
- Arsenal have run out of steam in the title race after a titanic battle for first place
- Simon Jordan has questioned Mikel Arteta’s credentials to win a league title
- Arteta’s ability to get a little more out of a player sparked a debate on the air
Mikel Arteta’s credentials as a future Premier League winning manager have been called into question, with Simon Jordan unsure if the Spaniard has what it takes to pull a team over the line.
Arteta has transformed Arsenal from missing out on the top four last season to pushing Manchester City all the way into the title race this time around.
But a recent stutter in form has seen City seize control of that particular race and for Jordan, Arteta has plenty to prove.
“I’m concerned — to use a sounessism — that Arteta is a son-in-law,” he said talkSPORT.
“I’m not sure he has this particular gear in those narrowed eyes that focuses players’ minds to take them to the next level. Something was lost and it wasn’t easy [William] Saliba, that didn’t get you any further than those games.’
Mikel Arteta’s ability to be a Premier League winning manager is being questioned
Arsenal’s late-season stutter saw them fall away from main title rivals Manchester City
�� “I am concerned, to use a Sounessism, that Mikel Arteta is a son-in-law.”
�� “Their business end of the season was similar to last season… victory of victory!”
Simon Jordan is not sure if Arteta is the man who will win #AFC the competition. pic.twitter.com/fAXdR2yGP1
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) May 16, 2023
Jim White, who was on the air with Jordan, challenged his colleague’s views, pointing to Arteta’s ruthless firing of team leader Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
“That was a moment of courage and conviction, but then you have that moment where your team has to do something different to overcome the business end of the season,” Jordan added.
Arsenal’s business end of the season was similar to the business end of the season last year for several reasons.
Well done to finish second in the league. Not so well done to snatch defeat from the joys of victory. Will they build on it? Is the next step to win the league? I do not think so.’
After a thumping 4-1 win over Leeds, Arsenal went four games without a win and their most recent defeat – a 3-0 humiliation at home to Brighton – seems to have seen their title aspirations go up in smoke as they are four points behind Man. City with two games to go.