Mikel Arteta has been told he could face the sack if Arsenal fail to finish in the top four this season after a second successive summer of heavy spending.
The Gunners have surpassed the £100million mark yet again thanks in large part to the acquisitions of former Manchester City duo Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko. With that amount of money being forked out, expectations have inevitably raised and a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace in their Premier League opener has seen Arsenal touted by many as qualifiers for next season's Champions League.
Should they fail in that quest, Arteta will no doubt come in for serious questioning and potentially criticism according to former club captain William Gallas, who has lofty expectations for his old side this season.
Speaking to Genting Casino, the Frenchman explained: "Of course he will be in big trouble if they don’t make top four. 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, at least qualify for the Champions League. They have just bought new players, it's in the hands of Arteta and the players.
"It will be a big problem for all of them if they don't do their job to qualify in the Champions League."
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Arteta knows his project must bear fruit in the form of a return to European football's top table. Fail to do so this season, and it would go against the five-year plan put in place by technical director Edu.
The Arsenal chief recently revealed his long-term ambitions for the club and pinpointed this season as a vital one. Edu discussed his relationship with Arteta and the level he wants Arsenal to be at in the future.
"He [Arteta] showed me he has a very clear idea of how he wants to play football, which again helps us to make decisions. Now he’s going to make the club’s life easier.
"Then I give to the club a five-year plan. I said to Mikel and to the board: ‘Guys, 2022-23 will be the season we’re going to be much better. We have to be patient… It would be impossible to take everyone out and put everyone in, we need a process to do that."
