Mikel Arteta sack claim as Jim White shares Tottenham reaction to Arsenal loss v PSG
Tottenham fans will be in a jubilant mood ahead of their clash with Bodø/Glimt after Arsenal’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League.
Spurs have a chance to reach the UEFA Europa League final, which would offer the Lilywhites a route into next season’s Champions League and see them win a first trophy since 2008.
This comes just a day after North London rivals Arsenal were beaten in the Champions League semi-finals by PSG (7 May), which confirmed that the Gunners will end the season without a trophy.
Although some Tottenham fans were sympathetic over a penalty awarded against Arsenal, they will still see the funny side as Mikel Arteta is now under increased scrutiny.
Tottenham fans launch jibe at Arteta amid sack verdict
Despite Arsenal’s failure to win a trophy, they have competed at the top end of the Premier League for the past three seasons, having previously languished further down the table.
Speaking on talkSPORT (8 May, 10:46 am), Simon Jordan defended Arteta when asked whether he deserved to be sacked.
Jordan said, “If you look at it in isolation and say three second-place spots in the last three seasons, qualification for the Champions League, and also getting into the semi-finals, I think most clubs would say, ‘Well, you’re not far away’.”
| Tottenham’s recent record in North London derbies | Result |
| 15/01/2025 | 2-1 to Arsenal |
| 15/09/2024 | 1-0 to Arsenal |
| 28/04/2024 | 3-2 to Arsenal |
| 24/09/2023 | 2-2 Draw |
“I’d be surprised if any boardroom, besides the protestations of the fans, could sit there and go, ‘I tell you what, we need to get rid of this fella,'”
Presenter Jim White then revealed that a Spurs fan had called and joked he hoped Arteta would stay, given Arsenal’s lack of trophies in the last five years.
“There’s a Tottenham fan calling in, and he’s saying ‘no, no, please keep Arteta,'” White stated.
Tottenham have lesson to learn from Arsenal
Although Tottenham could win the Europa League this season, it has still been a dismal domestic campaign under Ange Postecoglou, and the North London club could yet finish as low as 17th in the Premier League.
Three years ago, Antonio Conte’s Spurs beat Arsenal to a top-four spot to qualify for the Champions League, but the two clubs have gone on different paths since.
Arsenal invested well and backed Arteta and became title challengers, while Tottenham have been through a few managers since, and may even part ways with Postecoglou as they fall further down the table.
It could be argued that Tottenham’s lack of investment and lack of long-term planning has led to the situation they are in, which has seen them fall below Arsenal and regress over the past few years.