Arsenal might just end up in second place in the Premier League this term for the third consecutive season.
While Liverpool have already claimed the league title this season, Arsenal currently have 67 points in the table with four matches remaining. The Gunners finished second behind Manchester City in the last two seasons, missing out on the trophy by two and five points respectively.
This has often been a point of criticism for Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta, who took charge in December 2019. In his first season at the Emirates, the Gunners stood eighth in the Premier League while winning the FA Cup.
Arteta then led the Gunners squad to win the FA Community Shield in 2020 and 2023 along with gradual significant progress in the Premier League table. However, during his ongoing six-year journey as manager, he has yet to claim the league title or lift the UEFA Champions League trophy.
One cannot deny the improvements Arteta has brought to the Emirates, including Arsenal’s first Champions League semi-final qualification since 2008-09 this season, with a shot of winning the title for the first time in the club’s history.
However, Arsenal legend Jens Lehmann believes Arteta needs to win more to continue as the Gunners boss.
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What did Jens Lehmann say about Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta?
Jens Lehmann joined the Gunners from Borussia Dortmund in 2003 and continued there till 2008. He was a part of Arsenal’s “Invincibles” and later, he returned to the club from retirement in March 2011 for the remainder of that season.
Lehmann recently spoke about Arteta’s management on talkSPORT and heaped praise on what the 43-year-old has done for Arsenal. However, the former goalkeeper also emphasized (comments via The Mirror) that he has to bring home silverware next year.
“I think he started with a bad start, but you have to give a lot of credit to him. He pulled himself out, he changed the team and now he has made them very stable, and stable at the top, which is fantastic for the current owner, because he generates the money. And on top if it, if they don’t win, he doesn’t need to pay him extra bonuses!”
“But obviously, he has to win next year. This year, they could have won [the Premier League], Man City dropped a little bit, Liverpool replaced them.”
Lehmann also mentioned that Arteta ‘needs to change his personality’ and be ‘more risky’ to bag wins.
“Next year he has to win, but he probably needs to change his personality a little bit to win things. Because sometimes, it’s [about] control and being cautious. But if you want to win some things, in my opinion you could be a little more risky.”
Arteta & Co.’s only remaining chance of winning a trophy this season is the Champions League. Arsenal will be making the trip to Parc des Princes to face PSG in the second leg of the semi-final with a one-goal deficit on May 7.
