Mikel Arteta might have to face the sack if Arsenal fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League this season, says the former club captain William Gallas. The Gunners finished fifth in the Premier League last season, narrowly missing out on the top four spots.
Former club captain Gallas has laid down a warning to the Spaniard that another season out of Europe’s top tier, that, too, after spending an exorbitant amount of money in the transfer market, will cost him his job. The Frenchman believes that his former team must have a great season and that a top-four finish is an absolute necessity.
“Of course, he will be in trouble. Arteta has been asked to make the top four and he didn’t do it last season.”
“If Arsenal don’t play in the Champions League next season, it would cause a lot of drama. They have to have a great season, possibly win the Premier League, but definitely to qualify for the Champions League,”
Gallas told Genting Casino.
Who, then, can Arsenal replace in the top four with competition for places strong as it is? Gallas believes that Liverpool, who finished runners-up to rivals Manchester City last term by a point, can drop out following the sale of Sadio Mane.
The ex-France international claims that his replacement, Luis Diaz, will fail to have the same impact as the Senegalese forward – who now plays for German champions Bayern Munich.
Gallas, who played for Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur, thinks that his three former teams will make it into next season’s Champions League draw, along with City.
“Liverpool always concede goals too, like we saw against Fulham. Even if I like how Liverpool play, I think it will be City, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham.”
Barring Liverpool and Manchester United, all of the four other teams of the “top six” won their opening day fixtures against their respective opponents, but none more heavily than Tottenham, who beat Southampton 4-1 and are top of the table going into round two.
