Arsenal are set to stick with Mikel Arteta next season despite failing to reach the Europa League final and being on course for their worst Premier League finish since 1995.
The Gunners were knocked out at the semi-final stage of the Europa League by Villarreal on Thursday – a competition seen as Arteta’s “rescue package” after a disappointing domestic season.
His side currently sit ninth in the table and face the likely prospect of no European football next season.
OPINION: Havertz ain’t broke, so why do Chelsea need their striker fix?
But the Mirror claims the Kroenkes have already made the decision to stick with the Spaniard next season, trusting the “process”.
Arteta admitted the defeat to Villarreal “really hurt” but is adamant he will continue to “push” to do better at Arsenal.
He said: “What I felt last night was a deep pain.
“The moment the club is in at the moment, with everything it has been through over the last months, I had a feeling that if we could take the team to the final, it could be a great turning point.
“I felt that responsibility and I was so eager to achieve that because I knew it could be a defining moment. Not being able to achieve it, has been really tough personally obviously.
“I know that we have disappointed a lot of people as well, and that really hurts because we want to give the best to everybody but one thing I made clear is that to do what we want to do, I have no doubts that we are going to achieve it. If not, I wouldn’t be sat here.”
“I understand those concerns because when you are out of the Champions League for five years it is not just a casualty, it’s a trend,” he said when asked if he understood why fans may fear Arsenal are becoming a mid-table club.
“There are facts to support that trend and as well defined years how it was achieved the Champions League as well.
“So, there are things to change, that’s for sure because you no one is going to accept that at this football club.
“I am not going to accept that and the fans are not going to accept that. So we all have to push together to achieve something very different.
“I take full responsibility for my part, for sure, since I arrived here what I have tried to do, giving my life, my best ability, investing every drop of energy that I have emotionally to support everything that has been going around with my knowledge, with staff, with all the players that are trying to contribute with all the club to give our best.
“But so far it has not been enough and this when the question mark comes, why it is not enough? Is it just a thing? Is it the manager? Is it many other stuff? What is it? And then this is football.
“Again, I repeat myself, last night that ball goes in, we win 1-0. You are in the final and it is a different world. But today that world doesn’t look very nice.”
The post Kroenkes make decision to stick with Arteta next season appeared first on Football365.