'Everyone laughs' - Arsenal icon Thierry Henry makes Mikel Arteta feelings crystal clear

Arsenal icon has acknowledged that it's normal for fans and pundits to scrutinise given the team's lack of trophies under his management.

Despite a high-performing season, the Gunners have once again Following two seasons as runners-up to Pep Guardiola's this year saw Arne Slot's snatch the title from them, relegating Arteta's side to second place yet again.

Their FA Cup journey by a penalty shootout defeat by a struggling while Newcastle United, who went on to lift the League Cup, knocked them out of that competition.

In Europe, Arsenal's in the semi-finals by Paris Saint-Germain, despite over Real Madrid in the round prior.

With no trophies or major finals to their name this season, scrutiny has intensified around Arteta, whose sole triumph with the Gunners remains the 2019/20 FA Cup. Henry has now expressed understanding for the doubts cast over Arteta's tenure.

"I understand that at the very beginning [for Mikel Arteta] you arrive and it's not your team," Henry said, speaking on brought to you by Sky Bet.

"You need at the very least three or four transfer windows to change everything that you want to. It takes time, and you have to give a manager time to be able to implement what he wants to do. Now, for the last three years, Arsenal have been in a situation where they should have at least brought one cup in. Or a final.

"Manchester United have played in five finals in the last five years, the United that everyone laughs at, whereas for Arsenal in the last three years of building, they've not reached a final.

"So, I do understand when people ask the question, 'Surely you should compete for a trophy?' I'm not saying that I'm disappointed with Arsenal, but it's normal that people are raising questions now about what the team is doing."

Attentions now turn to the transfer window ahead of what feels like a make-or-break campaign for the Spanish head coach, who will enter his sixth full season in charge at the Emirates.

The Spaniard playfully spoke about the delicate nature of budgeting for improvements this summer alongside new sporting director Andrea Berta, insisting that a plan is in place.

"The thing is that the budget is like when you have your wedding, you plan your wedding with your wife and you give her a budget and never less, it's always more," quipped Arteta.

"When you build a house, it's always more. Normally, this happens. You prepare for different scenarios. Then, unfortunate things happen. Sometimes we want a player, and suddenly we have an injury, or that player gets injured.

"There are so many variables that can happen, but there is a budget. There is always an idea of what we can do, what we can improve, what the priorities are going to be and then let's see if we can do it."