Arsenal vs Tottenham: Why is frustration growing at Mikel Arteta’s Gunners?

BBC Sport’s Arsenal correspondent, Alex Howell:

There is no doubt that Mikel Arteta has transformed Arsenal since taking over as manager in 2019.

That progress had renewed optimism in north London and, after pushing Manchester City to the final day of the Premier League season in the previous campaign, many thought this would be the year Arsenal would finally win silverware.

But on Sunday, a unique atmosphere of despair was created in the field.

When the team was trailing with plenty of time remaining against Newcastle, some supporters walked out and that frustration spread to the Manchester United game.

Two consecutive defeats at home in cup competitions are beginning to give rise to the feeling that this could be another campaign where Arsenal miss out on the top prizes.

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The fan base is now confused as to where to blame. This team doesn’t look all that different from last year, where the same personnel produced a record-breaking season.

Fundamentally, Arteta isn’t about missing chances and missing penalties – this is a story about individuals under-delivering. The players are the same, not the performance.

However, Arteta’s critics will point to his failure to strengthen Arsenal’s attacking line in the recent transfer window. The vocal ‘Arteta out’ brigade are reifying last season’s successes as either luck, or a dramatic overachievement that has in reality masked the fundamental issues with Arsenal’s squad.

Misplaced confidence in things like Kai Havertz’s consistency, which I think is a symptom of inexperience, not arrogance or stubbornness, has left the team inadequate to handle ups and downs in form.

Now, our attention turns to Wednesday’s North London derby, where there is plenty to fear. Win, and Arsenal will at least stop the rot. But if Spurs leave the Emirates with three points, there will be nowhere to hide for Arteta.