Watershed or will Arteta be given reboot time?

The Arsenal v Manchester United FA Cup semi-final clash in 1999 was a watershed moment.

The tie in January 2025 – could prove another.

The Arteta project now has a route to unravelling.

This was the season when the club needed silverware – and after this week – it is unlikely. And the Spaniard will come under increasing pressure.

Balance is everything – and Arteta has spent too much on defence and defensive midfield and not enough on attack. He is more Moyes than Wenger, more George Graham than Unai Emery.

The chance to salvage the season in the twenty days left of the window will be difficult. January is a seller’s market. And if the club go out and make an emergency signing – it is likely to mess up their longer-term targets in the summer.

Go for Gykores now, who some say doesn’t fit the way Arsenal play and lose the opportunity for potentially Isak, Cunha or even Sesko in the summer.

More realistic is a loan signing like Euan Ferguson of Brighton who is struggling for game time and a loan may suit both parties or one of the lower cost wingers which have been linked, like Igor Paixão of Feyernoord. And even then, any deals will be in the latter part/end of the market.

Not what the majority of Arsenal fans want to hear – but that is the exigencies of the January market when key players wanted are not available.

As for Arteta leaving – no. Wenger stayed years after his sell by date – under the same management.

The Spaniard has brought Champions League football, and a vibrant match-day atmosphere to the Emirates.

What the situation does do is put increasing emphasis of getting the right director of football who can get the right attacking players. Around nearly half of signings don’t work out.