Mikel Arteta told 'there's no excuse' as controversial Premier League decision made

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Wayne Rooney has told Mikel Arteta he will be sacked unless he goes on and wins the title with Arsenal this season. Arsenal have gone unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions - opening up a four point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Arteta's men are six points ahead of Manchester City , and seven better off than defending champions Liverpool . Arsenal have not won the title since 2004 - and the pressure on Arteta to deliver is growing.

The Spaniard has won just one piece of silverware since taking charge in 2019, while Arsenal have finished second in both of the last two seasons. Rooney admits he expects Arsenal to be crowned champions come the end of this season. And reckons Arteta will be dismissed in the summer of he doesn't get the job done.

He told the Wayne Rooney Show: "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.”

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Rooney's comments on Arteta's Premier League hopes come as the Premier League braces itself for a backlash from furious fans, after it emerged the Boxing Day fixtures will be decimated.

In a break with tradition, calendar pressures mean there could be just ONE top flight fixture this year. The outcome is down to a number of factors, including Boxing Day falling on a Friday, a more congested fixture programme due to UEFA staging expanded competitions, and the FA Cup switching exclusively to weekends.

The Premier League have refused to confirm there could be just one game taking place. But League bosses admit their hand could be forced due to a number of reasons.

The game that will be scheduled for Boxing Day has still to be announced. The Premier League is also contractually obliged to deliver 33 weekends to broadcasters - and needs to deliver on its promise.

Which means Boxing Day will just be treated as a normal Friday, with one game screened. Games would then take place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.