Time running out for Arteta

That’s the view of Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison who believes the Gunners have regressed this season, and the main reason is staring them in the face.

“I think this summer they will back him [Arteta] and bring in a centre-forward because they’ve never had one,” he said.

“I think Arteta will stay there, but this summer is massive for him. I think he has to get something next season. If he doesn’t get anything next season, then there will be serious question marks.

“There are probably a few question marks and doubts over him at the moment, and I think there could come a time when Arsenal have to pull the plug on it.

“I do think the pressure is mounting on Arteta, but I still think he will be there come pre-season and the start of next season.”

Arsenal take on Liverpool on Sunday - 15 points behind the champions – and are facing up to another trophyless season. Last year Arteta’s men finished two points behind Manchester City.

After running out of steam in the Premier League, the Champions League semi-final exit in midweek has compounded matters.

“A lot of fans will probably be disappointed because this was their chance to win the Premier League, but they haven’t managed it.

“If you think of the two previous seasons, the points total Arsenal got when finishing second would probably have been enough this year, and is way higher than what they’ve got themselves this year. So that goes to show that they haven’t produced the same kind of football they were producing in previous seasons when they’ve been challenging Manchester City.

“It’s been disappointing for them because I think this was their opportunity to go and win it, but that didn’t happen and now the same has happened with the Champions League, and they’ve been knocked out of that.”

Morrison added: “It was always going to be difficult. They surprised me when they beat Real Madrid so credit to them for that, but I just thought they came up a bit short against a very good PSG team.”

Read Clinton Morrison’s full blog here