Mikel Arteta is starting to lose the Arsenal dressing room, according to shock reports.
Senior Gunners stars are said to be growing tired of being blamed for the club’s poor results, with Arteta apparently making it seem that the players are the sole reason for Arsenal’s decline.
Arsenal are currently 11th in the Premier League table with just eight games left to play this season.
They’re 12 points adrift of the Champions League places and are closer on points to rock-bottom Sheffield United than champions-elect Manchester City.
Arsenal have also been knocked out of both domestic cup competitions this season, meaning the Europa League is their only hope of success this campaign.
Winning the tournament would seal them a place in next season’s Champions League.
But the Gunners were very poor in the first leg of their quarter-final clash with Slavia Prague on Thursday, conceding an away goal in stoppage time to throw away victory.
Arteta’s tactics were criticised following the match, with the Spaniard waiting until the 75th minute before making four changes.
And according to The Sun, his Arsenal players have also been critical of his management, with stars frustrated at always been seen to be the reason for poor performances.
Arteta has a habit of leaving a big name off his teamsheet following a disappointing result, giving the impression that that individual is to blame.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was benched for the Slavia Prague game, and Arteta’s treatment of the Gabon international has reportedly not gone unnoticed in the Arsenal dressing room.
The report adds that there is also the feeling among players that summer signing Thomas Partey hasn’t been able to spread his wings at Arsenal because of Arteta’s tactics.