Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta accused of keeping secret as potential replacement sends message

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Mikel Arteta has never been under this much pressure at Arsenal . Having suffered back-to-back defeats to crash out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup , the manager’s Premier League title hopes are now also under threat.

The 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth last week did little to alleviate concerns that Arsenal’s season may be unravelling at the final hurdle - just as it has done in recent seasons under the Spaniard. Sunday’s league visit to Manchester City marks the most important fixture of the campaign, with a defeat closing the gap to second-placed City to just three points.

There has already been some discussion over whether Arteta will stay on if the Gunners do not end their 22-year drought for a league trophy this season, as injuries continue to hinder the north Londoners. Now, Mirror Football takes a look at two of the latest news stories surrounding the league leaders.

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Former Norwegian footballer Steffen Iversen has claimed Arsenal could be keeping the true nature of Martin Odegaard’s recurring knee problem a secret. The Gunners captain has been in and out of the side all season long due to various injuries.

The most serious injury has been a knee problem he initially suffered against West Ham back in October, which forced the Norwegian off the field. Having returned to action in late November, Odegaard was again unable to continue against Brentford due to a knee issue in February.

The lingering problem has ruled him out of the majority of matches since, with the 27-year-old rarely being able to play consecutive games. That has led to concerns over the true extent of his knee issue externally, with ex-Tottenham striker Iversen believing there could be more to the situation than what is being made public by Arteta in press conferences.

He told Dagbladet : "It depends on what’s going on inside the knee. We on the outside don’t get to know everything. They always keep something secret. It could be things that aren’t good. Then he’s come back. It feels OK. And yet, it’s not quite right after all."

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Cesc Fabregas has provided an update on his future at Como by highlighting his commitment to the Italian club. The former Arsenal captain has turned their fortunes around since taking over as permanent manager in 2024, having previously played for the club, acted as interim boss and then as assistant manager.

With Como currently fifth in Serie A and potentially qualifying for the Champions League next season, Fabregas’ early managerial career has caught the attention of several clubs around Europe. Naturally, he has been touted as a potential future manager at the two English clubs he represented in his playing career - Chelsea and Arsenal.

Some have even tipped the Spaniard to replace Arteta once the current Gunners boss calls time on his tenure at the Emirates Stadium. Arteta is reportedly in talks with the Arsenal hierarchy over a new contract despite rumours that he could be sacked if they throw away the league this year.

But Fabregas recently admitted he doesn’t think he’ll leave Como this summer, as it stands. He said: "I am very committed to this project. You never know but right now I think it’s very unlikely I’ll leave Como.

"Last year, I wanted to see how other clubs operated. I mentioned it to the president, but I decided to stay. I’m very happy with what we’ve been able to achieve." As quoted by the Metro , Fabregas added: "This is an important project. I need to feel good here. It’s important that my family is happy, and if they’re happy in Como, I’ll stay."

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