‘Out of his depth’: BBC pundit thinks £96k-a-week Arsenal man ‘biggest culprit’

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Garth Crooks has strongly criticised Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on BBC Sport.

The former Tottenham Hotspur forward believes that Arteta is out of his depth at Arsenal.

Crooks does not think that Arteta – who earns £5 million per year (£96,153 per week) as salary, according to Goal – is making the most of the players he has at his disposal at Arsenal.

The Englishman made the comments about Arteta while including Arsenal central defender Gabriel in his BBC Premier League Team of the Week.

Crooks wrote on BBC Sport: “Boy, do Arsenal need Gabriel in their team. The hug that took place between Aaron Ramsdale and Gabriel at the end of the game said just how much a second clean sheet in consecutive games meant to Arsenal’s defensive unit. Ben White also played his part in a set-up that coped well against Burnley.

“The problem for the Gunners is they look miles from where they really should be right now and the biggest culprit seems to be the manager.

“Mikel Arteta appears out of his depth. He has talented players at his disposal and on occasions against Burnley they showed it. However, it was a set-piece that dug him out of a hole.”

Harsh criticism?

Arsenal have won their last two Premier League games and have kept a clean sheet in both of them.

The Gunners are not scoring too many goals, but at least defensively they are doing well.

While Arsenal could and should do much better, it is a bit harsh of Crooks to say that Arteta is out of his depth at Arsenal.

Arteta is a very young manager who does not have a squad that is as good as that of Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United or Manchester City.

Now, of course, Arsenal are a massive club and a global brand and the fans are very demanding, but we need to give Arteta some time.

The Spaniard should be given this entire season at least.

Not many Arsenal fans will expect the team to challenge for the Premier League top four this season, but the North London club should, and probably will, fight for the Europa League places.