ARSENAL chiefs are reportedly still backing Mikel Arteta and believe ‘the Covid chaos that has engulfed the club’ is the main reason for their poor start to the season.
The Gunners team were jeered by their own fans at both half time and the final whistle as they went down feebly 2-0 at home to Chelsea on Sunday.
Manager Arteta was then confronted by furious supporters as he attempted to leave the Emirates Stadium afterwards.
Arsenal, who were defeated by newly-promoted Brentford on the opening day of the campaign, remain winless as pressure mounts on their Spanish boss after he spent £130m on transfer reinforcements this summer.
However, the Daily Mail states ‘there is an acceptance’ from the club’s top brass that preparations for the season ‘have been beset by Covid-related issues’ which has led to him being unable to field his strongest team yet.
Arsenal were forced to postpone a pre-season trip to the USA due to a Covid outbreak at their training base last month.
Stars Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Ben White and Willian have all tested positive for coronavirus – meaning they have had to miss Premier League fixtures.
Therefore this fresh report claims Arteta ‘continues to have the immediate backing of the Gunners hierarchy’ at present.
And that they will also keep the chequebook open for more new arrivals as we enter the final few days of the summer transfer window.
Arteta is believed to want a new right-back with former Tottenham man Kieran Trippier a target.
If they and Atletico Madrid can agree a fee for the England man then that could see Hector Bellerin depart the North London outfit.
Arsenal’s chiefs want to give Arteta the opportunity for his summer signings to bed in and they are prepared to wait.
However this latest report also adds that they ‘are prepared to make a tough decision on Arteta’s future later in the campaign if there is not an improvement’ once the current problems have disappeared.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
