Some Arsenal supporters are already asking questions over Mikel Arteta. AFP Photo

Paul Kennedy

Arsenal have a tough trip to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, where they will face a Chelsea side in good form.

If they lose, and the teams above them win, Mikel Arteta’s men could find themselves a long way off the chase for the Premier League title they were so hotly tipped to contest before the season began.

Potentially, if Liverpool do win, Arsenal could be ten points adrift from the league leaders, and before you jump down my throat and say… “there’s a long way to go yet,” remember that we are already in the second quarter of the season.

In the last few weeks in the league, Arsenal have lost away to both Bournemouth and Newcastle, and could only manage a draw at home to Liverpool.

In the Champions League yesterday, they were beaten by Inter Milan. Hardly the confidence booster they need ahead of Sunday’s match.

From what I’ve seen on various Arsenal fan pages, it seems some supporters may be losing faith in the manager.

And it’s worth noting the shock departure of Edu, their director of football, a man many believe was the architect of Arsenal’s good form last season.

So I think it’s fair to say cracks are starting to appear.

As for Arteta, probably the only human who would play himself if LEGO decided to make a movie about football, he too seems to be buckling under the strain.

Against Inter he was actually booked for giving away a free kick, a rare sight seen from a manager.

Since his appointment in 2019, Arsenal have spent somewhere in the region of $775 million. That’s a decent chunk of change considering he’s only won one trophy, the FA Cup five years ago.

He was billed as a Guardiola 2.0 because of the time he spent as Pep’s assistant at Manchester City. But right now, he looks a shadow of his mentor.

One slight positive is the return of Martin Odegaard, their influential captain who has missed most of the season through injury.

The Norwegian made a very late appearance at the San Siro but had little time to make any real difference.

If they can get Odegaard back to his best, and quickly, then all hope is not lost.

Declan Rice was another absentee badly missed in Italy. He too needs to get back into the Arsenal midfield and will probably be available for the trip to Chelsea.

They have to win on Sunday, and hope those above them drop points. If not, then their Premier League title chase could be over before it has even begun. VNS