Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager has said the club will be “in big trouble” if they fail to transform their fortunes through a season-defining festive schedule.
The Gunners crashed out of the Carabao Cup 4-1 to Manchester City on Tuesday, the sixth defeat in 11 games in all competitions.
The North Londoners face Chelsea on 26 December before taking on Brighton and Hove Albion on 29 December and then round off their festive Premier League fixtures against West Bromwich Albion on 2 January 2021.
Speaking to Sky Sports last night after the shellacking by Manchester City at the Emirates, Arteta said:
We have to turn it around, there is no question. If we don’t, we are in big trouble, so this is the moment that is going to decide our season.
We do [have the tools to turn things around] because I see how much the players try and what they are trying to do, but at the moment a lot of strange things are happening in every game and that makes things really difficult.
Arteta left the Manchester City coaching set-up to take the reins at the Emirates over a year ago but defeat to his former employers has only heightened the mounting pressure on his position.