Darren Bent has told talkSPORT that Mikel Arteta has ‘earned the right’ to manage Arsenal in the Champions League if they qualify, despite suggesting fans want the Spaniard sacked.
The former Tottenham Hotspur striker, who supported the Gunners as a youth, feels parts of the Emirates Stadium hold out hope Arteta loses his job irrespective of how their season ends. He has already secured the north London outfit their return to Europe for next term.
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Arsenal are guaranteed to play, at worst, Europa League football next season after beating West Ham. They are in the box seat for the final top-four position with four games to play, two points clear of Spurs and five to Manchester United, who have played twice more.
The Gunners have not played in UEFA’s premier club competition since the 2016/17 term, when they reached the last 16. That’s because they have also not finished in the Premier League top-four since 2015/16, with two fifth-place results in ‘16/17 and ‘18/19 their best.
Arsenal have benefitted from not competing in Europe this season and ending last summer with a minus-£125.5m net spend. Arteta paid £50m for Ben White, £24m Aaron Ramsdale, £15.5m Takehiro Tomiyasu and £34m on Martin Odegaard, who have all been vital since.
Mikel Arteta ‘earned the right’ to take Arsenal into Champions League, says Bent
Results have not always met expectations at Arsenal this season, however, causing Bent to sense some supporters want Arteta sacked. The Gunners reached the EFL Cup semi-finals before losing to Liverpool, yet lost at the first hurdle in the FA Cup to Nottingham Forest.
Defeats to Crystal Palace, Brighton and Southampton also threatened their top-four hopes in April. Yet Arsenal responded to take nine points from nine against Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham to move back above Tottenham in the Champions League pursuit.
Reports by Il Messaggero have even claimed Arsenal approached Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri over replacing Arteta if they sack him. A call that has been on the table at the Emirates all season, with The Telegraph reporting last August he faced a five-game run to save his job.
Bent, though, is adamant Arteta has earned enough credit by having Arsenal on the cusp of returning to the Champions League to merit staying on, especially if they finish the job.
“There are still a lot of Arsenal fans who are unsure about Mikel Arteta being in charge,” Bent said. “They still think, come the end of the season, regardless of whether Arsenal are in the Champions League or not, he should not be the manager to take them forward.
“I completely disagree. I think he is the right manager to take them forward. He’s earned the right to move into next season – certainly if Arsenal are in the Champions League.”
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