6 days ago
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Wayne Rooney has warned Mikel Arteta that his job will be on the line unless he delivers the Premier League title with Arsenal this season.
Arsenal has maintained an unbeaten run across 10 matches in all competitions, establishing a four-point advantage at the summit of the Premier League table. Arteta's side currently sit six points clear of Manchester City and boast a seven-point cushion over reigning champions Liverpool.
The Gunners haven't claimed the title since 2004, with mounting expectation on Arteta to end that lengthy drought. The Spanish manager has secured just one trophy since his appointment in 2019, whilst Arsenal have concluded as runners-up in each of the previous two campaigns.
Former Everton and Manchester United star Rooney acknowledges his belief that Arsenal are destined to be crowned champions this term, but suggests Arteta faces the axe should he fail to deliver.
Speaking on the Wayne Rooney Show, he said: "They've got a good squad, they've got good players. I think Arteta's been waiting, he's been very close and they've tallied up a good amount of points in a couple of those seasons, which potentially in other years might have won them the league.
"But he's got a squad now where they're really expected to win a league now. So yeah, they grind results, they're physical, they've got good attacking players, so if one isn't doing it, the next one will. They're solid at the back. So yeah, I think they've gone to the favourites.
"The pressure is now can you be top of the league? Can you stay there? The demands of winning. I think they can. I think the squad is good enough now and I think they've had those experiences, which has got them close.
"But I think they're ready for it. There's no excuse, the players they've brought in, there's no excuse. If they don't win it now, you know, you'd probably see a change of manager if they don't win it now."
Rooney's remarks regarding Arteta's title aspirations emerge as the Premier League prepares for significant supporter backlash, following revelations that Boxing Day fixtures face substantial disruption.
Breaking from longstanding tradition, scheduling constraints indicate there may be merely ONE top-flight match this year.
The situation stems from multiple factors, including Boxing Day occurring on a Friday, an increasingly packed fixture calendar due to UEFA's expanded tournament formats, and the FA Cup's exclusive weekend scheduling.
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Premier League officials have declined to confirm that only a single fixture could proceed. However, league executives acknowledge their options may be severely limited by various circumstances.
The match scheduled for Boxing Day remains unannounced. The Premier League is also contractually bound to provide 33 weekends to broadcasting partners - and must fulfil this commitment.
Consequently, Boxing Day will simply be treated as an ordinary Friday, featuring one televised match. Fixtures would then continue across Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
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