Thierry Henry insists Mikel Arteta should be doing better with Arsenal and challenging more robustly for silverware.
The Gunners legend believes fans have a right to question the manager after three seasons of being second-best – and five without a proper trophy.
Arteta has restored Arsenal to the elite since taking over in December 2019 but has only lifted one competitive trophy – the FA Cup in that first season – and two Community Shields.
Their growing reputation as nearlymen has led to pundits piling the pressure on the Spaniard, with Paul Merson suggesting he could be sacked by Christmas if they are not in the hunt for the Premier League.
Now Henry has weighed in and made a pointed remark with Manchester United, who are still reaching and winning finals despite their almighty slump.
‘I’m not saying that I’m disappointed with Arsenal, but it’s normal that people are raising questions now about what the team is doing,’ Henry told the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
Thierry Henry says Mikel Arteta should have won a trophy or been in a final in recent seasons
He says it is fair for supporters to question Mikel Arteta when they just fall short each season
Arsenal reached the semi-finals of the Champions League this year in an encouraging sign
‘I understand that at the very beginning [for Mikel Arteta] you arrive and it’s not your team, you need at the very least three or four transfer windows to change everything that you want to.
‘It takes time and you have to give a manager time to be able to implement what he wants to do.
‘Now, for the last three years Arsenal have been in a situation where they should have at least brought one cup in or a final.
‘Manchester United have played in five finals in the last five years, the United that everyone laughs at, whereas for Arsenal in the last three years of building, they’ve not reached a final.
‘So, I do understand when people ask the question, “Surely you should compete for a trophy?”
There is little doubting Arteta’s transformative effect on Arsenal and it is worth highlighting their plight before he came in.
The Gunners had finished outside the top four for three consecutive seasons when he came in but, after some teething issues, he has them back near the top.
Arteta has gutted the dressing room of problematic personalities and instilled the players with belief that they can compete for the highest honours.
Henry highlighted how Man United have been winning trophies even in a difficult period
Arsenal have now been runners-up for three consecutive seasons in the Premier League
Paul Merson thinks Arsenal’s hierarchy could run out of patience with Arteta by Christmas
Jamie Carragher said Arsenal will consider sacking him if he does not win a trophy next season
Twice they have come close to winning the Premier League – last season they finished on 89 points, which would have been enough this time – and this campaign they reached the semi-finals of the Champions League after thrashing Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate.
Amid some devastating injuries, they have retained their record as the side with the best defensive record for another season and played attractive football going forward.
But the truth stands that Man United, going through a downbeat era, have still won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in the last five seasons, also reaching another final of football’s oldest competition and the last two of the Europa League twice.
Jamie Carragher also believes Arteta is under pressure to deliver another trinket.
‘This season felt like it should have been their season,’ the Liverpool icon recently told Sky Sports. ‘There’s no doubt next season that the pressure will be on Mikel Arteta massively in terms of winning something and winning something big.
‘The Arsenal board, if they don’t [win a major trophy], will have a massive issue because they won’t want to change their manager, but there will be that many people saying: five or six years without a trophy.
‘They will be looking at how many managers can make that next step.’
Thierry Henry was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
