Arsenal Invincible sticking with Arteta even if Gunners fail to win a title 

The first three quarters of the season have been a dream for Arsenal, who haven’t raised a Premier League trophy since the early 2000s. Mikel Arteta is the captain of the ship, and one of the members of the Invincibles squad from 2003-04 is backing the current boss even if Arsenal should fail to add to the trophy cabinet at Emirates Stadium.

All four trophies still in play

There is still much work to be done, but Arteta´s side have been front runners in the domestic league and Europe for essentially the entire season. They finished top of the league phase in the Champions League back in January, and are now in the Top 16, with a very favorable draw over the next few rounds. They are top of the table in England, with a five point cushion over the closest contender, although they have played one more match than the rest of the clubs chasing. On top of that they are alive in the FA Cup and prepping for a Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.

There is an aura around North London that hasn’t been sensed in quite a while and now, one of the heroes of yesteryear is backing manager Mikel Arteta in the title chases. Former Arsenal striker Jeremei Aliadiere is thrilled with the results so far and wants the Gunners continue along this track. “We’re still challenging and at a top level as well. We’re not challenging five, six, seven points off the top. No, we are top with five points clear, which could be two. Top of the Champions League, got a nice draw that we’re capable of going through and going all the way. Good draw in the FA Cup and in the final of the Carabao Cup.”

The Frenchman singed with Arsenal in 1999 as a 16 year old, and made his first team debut a couple season later. He spent five seasons under Arsene Wenger but only made 29 league appearances. Ten of those came in the Invincibles season back in 2003-04 season, and now Aliadiere is backing the boss in charge, even if they come up empty this season again.

Win or lose, Arteta stays

When asked if Arteta should keep his job at the Emirates even if they come up empty in the four title chases they are currently in, Aliadiere said, “A hundred per cent. For me, one million per cent. I just look at progress and I just look at the squad. Are we better than last year? Yes, we are. Are we a better squad than last year? Yes. Do you think Arteta, as the manager at the moment, is better than what he’s achieved and done last year? Yes, he is.”

This isn’t the first time Arteta has had Arsenal whiffing major titles. The Gunners have finished runners-up in the last three league campaigns. They also reached the semis in the domestic and European cup but fell short of glory, and Arteta is trying to take past experience to prepare his team for a successful sprint to the finish line. “We have ourselves a very clear instruction. We have to live in the present. What we did in the past is great, but we have to live in the present, and the present is beautiful. We are exactly where we want to be in every competition but there is still lots to play, and we need to earn it like we have done in the last seven or eight months,” said the Arsenal boss.

Arsenal are away to Brighton tonight, and then will set their sights on the fifth round of the FA Cup when they make the trip to One Call Stadium to take on Mansfield. The weekend trip will be followed by a two legged tie in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen. It’s a busy month for Arsenal, and if they are going to be in the running for all four trophies they are going to have to take care of buisness in the next two weeks.

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