Arsenal News: Mikel Arteta's Future Could Be Decided By Two Players' Attitude

Mikel Arteta’s downfall as Arsenal manager will come at the hand of the players, according to Aston Villa legend Gabriel Agbonlahor.

He believes the players’ lack of effort and desire to follow the manager will see him sacked before the end of the season.

Arsenal lost their eighth in 14 games this season against Everton on Saturday and finds themselves at the No. 15 spot, just five points above the relegation zone.

Arteta’s men next face Chelsea in the English Premier League, and another loss will leave the Gunners’ hierarchy pondering if a change is necessary.

Agbonlahor has identified two players whom he believes have already decided that they will not ‘run’ for the manager, namely Nicolas Pepe and Alexander Lacazette.

The former Villa striker feels the Spanish manager has lost the confidence of the dressing room, including experienced players such as David Luiz.

“When does it start to become embarrassing to keep Arteta? It might come to the stage where they might have to get rid of him,” Agbonlahor said, as quoted by the London Evening Standard. "It’s one thing if you get your tactics wrong but if you can’t get the players working and running for you then your time’s done."

"I do think he’s lost the changing room. I can tell by Nicolas Pepe’s body language when he came off that he’s not having the manager. Alexandre Lacazette when he’s coming on for 15 minutes, you can tell he’s not having the manager."

Arteta has now been in charge of Arsenal for just over a year since taking over from Unai Emery last November. He won the FA Cup and the Community Shield last season, but Agbonlahor feels certain players are ready to ‘throw him under the bus’ and wait for the next manager to come along.

"When I look at it I feel sorry for Arteta because he’s come in, done well with the team, he’s won a trophy and now with these results the players aren’t running for him,” he stated.

"You see him animated on the side, he’s trying to motivate them...he’s trying his best. But these players, they’ve done it to previous managers and they’ll do the same to him, they’ll throw him under the bus and wait for the next manager to come along."

According to the Athletic’s David Ornstein, the Gunners board are behind the manager and will give him the time to turn things around.

However, there is a possibility that continued defeats in the league over the Christmas period could change the owners’ minds.