Arsenal sit first in the Premier League with 70 points from 32 matches, but their recent form tells a strikingly different story. The Gunners entered 2026 chasing an extraordinary quadruple, but cup exits to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final have since stripped that ambition bare.
Most recently, Arsenal lost 2-1 to Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on 11 April, which was a result that rattled supporters so much that many walked out before the final whistle. Now, with a season-defining clash against Manchester City at the Etihad on 19 April looming, the pressure at the club has never felt quite so suffocating, both in the league and in Europe.
Could Arteta’s seven-year reign at Arsenal end this summer?
Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo broke a story this week that became the headline across north London: Mikel Arteta‘s job is under serious threat if the season ends without a Premier League or Champions League trophy. The report states that Arsenal have already drawn up backup plans and view Cesc Fàbregas as the top candidate to replace Arteta, should the Spaniard end up with another trophyless campaign.
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Furthermore, Arsenal chairmen Stan and Josh Kroenke have reportedly already identified Fàbregas as their ideal replacement, feeling his eight seasons as a player give him the perfect understanding of the club. TEAMtalk backed up the story, reporting that Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City are all keeping a close eye on Fàbregas’ work at Como, where the Italian side sit fifth in Serie A and are pushing for their first-ever Champions League spot.
Fàbregas is under contract at Como until 2028, meaning Arsenal would need to pay a release fee to get him. Since taking over in late 2019, Arteta has won only one major trophy, the FA Cup, despite six full seasons in charge, a return that the board now seems to find disappointing.
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Is the Arsenal board risking progress for potential?
Sacking Arteta at the end of this season is a move the Arsenal board might regret sooner than they think. He rebuilt the club from the ruins of the post-Wenger years, brought Champions League football back to the Emirates, and is currently leading a title race that Arsenal still control, no matter how nervous things have become.
Losing to Bournemouth at home hurts, but context is key. This is still a squad that beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 and won away at Sporting CP in the Champions League within the last month. Replacing a manager of Arteta’s quality with Fàbregas, regardless of how well he’s done at Como, is a massive gamble.
Fàbregas has never managed a club in a top-five league under the intense pressure to win titles, and that lack of experience could be costly at a club where fans demand results right now. The reaction from Arsenal fans online, with many calling for a proven winner rather than a project manager, shows exactly how high that anxiety is. Sometimes, sticking it out in football brings the biggest rewards, and the board should keep in mind that Arteta’s work at Arsenal aren’t finished yet.
