Thierry Henry has said Mikel Arteta will face tough questions from the Arsenal board if the club ends the season without silverware.
Arteta’s side remains in the hunt for both the Premier League title and the UEFA Champions League. Arsenal lead the league by three points ahead of Manchester City, who still have a game in hand. The Gunners also prepare for a decisive second-leg semi-final against Atletico Madrid next Tuesday.
Arsenal last lifted a major trophy in 2020 when they beat Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
Speaking on CBS Sports, Henry said, “The board is going to have to decide what they are going to do with Mikel Arteta. All I’m saying is that at one point, after all those years and the amount of money on the table to have two teams, we have all said Arsenal have the best squad this season.
“At one point, you’ll have to talk and answer some questions if you don’t win. It is just a normal thing after so long.
“While it’s all good and we are all supporting Arsenal fans where we are going to be, but if it doesn’t happen, like I always said, you are going to have to answer some questions that the board is going to ask you.”
Meanwhile, midfielder Declan Rice could face disciplinary action from UEFA following his comments after Arsenal’s 1-1 draw in Madrid.
Rice criticised refereeing decisions after the first leg at the Metropolitano Stadium and suggested the atmosphere influenced officials to reverse a key penalty call.
Referee Danny Makkelie overturned a penalty decision involving Eberechi Eze, a moment Arteta said “changes the direction of the match and the tie.”
According to The Times, UEFA will review Rice’s remarks to assess whether they question the integrity of match officials.
Rice is expected to be available for the return leg at the Emirates Stadium, though any sanction could rule him out of the final if Arsenal progress.
