ARSENAL boss Mikel Arteta could be sacked come Christmas next season.
That is according to a club legend who insists the Gunners will have to be at least second in the table before the New Year or may have to find a new manager.
The North Londoners are set to finish as runners-up for the third year in a row and many argue , 43, is facing a make-or-break campaign next term with the club longing for a title.
haven’t won the Premiership since 2004 and questions have started to rise regarding the Spanish tactician’s ability to lead them to the top.
Especially after some questionable decisions, such as not signing a natural striker – in the summer with the likes of Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko targeted.
And is adamant Arteta has only got until Christmas to convince the board he can be the first manager to win a Premier League title in the post-Arsene Wenger era.
Merson, 57, insists the Arsenal manager can’t hide behind any excuses as the club is more than capable of attracting top-level players.
And four seasons without a title, despite all the quality in the squad, will purely not be good enough.
Merson told Sky Sports: “That would be my worry: I think Arteta has got until Christmas. They will have to be in the top two at Christmas to keep on going.
“If you get to four [seasons without any major trophies], you can’t [keep going].
“People want to come to Arsenal so it’s not like they’re scratching to get players – and they’ve got the money.
“For me, next year he’s got to be in the top two by Christmas or they’ll go for someone else.
“It’s timings. You have timings, you’ve got to make opportunities.
“When it’s your time, you’ve got to make it count. Look at Liverpool, they went 30 years without a title and then all of a sudden it comes around – they win trophies.
“I just think they have to make it count and I think this is the last year.”;;
