Mikel Arteta’s biggest concern is the growing suspicion that things are about to get a whole lot worse at Arsenal

MIKEL ARTETA says he is not prepared to accept an Arsenal team which is standing still — but what about one which is going backwards?

The Spanish perfectionist could barely conceal his rage as he poured over the car crash of Wednesday night’s return to action.

Surely he wasn’t surprised by the nature of his team having their a***s handed to them on a plate by Manchester City.

After all, there are only three certainties in life — death, taxes and Arsenal in meltdown.

But the problem for Arteta is the growing suspicion that things are about to become a whole lot worse for him and his team.

Why on earth would Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang agree to sign a new contract if it means playing wet nurse to Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka?

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The superstar striker thought he was joining a club with big-time ambitions when he signed from Borussia Dortmund for £60million two years ago.

But is he really going to make the same mistake again now he knows the true reality of life at the Emirates?

As the old saying goes: Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

Just like Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy and Alexis Sanchez before him, Aubameyang is realising that Arsenal is no place for a player with dreams of winning major titles.

The rot set in years ago when Arsene Wenger started to settle for a top-four finish and the occasional FA Cup run.

Spaniard Unai Emery tried to change that philosophy but soon found he was bashing his head against a brick wall.

When his team engineered a 22-match unbeaten run during his first four months in charge, delirious fans were singing, ‘We’ve got our Arsenal back’.

But they quickly changed their tune when the players reverted to their complacent old ways and Emery was unable do to halt the decline.

He left just over six months ago full of regrets at losing his battle of wills with Mesut Ozil and allowing himself to be overruled on new signings.

Now it is up to Arteta to show that he is made of sterner stuff as he prepares himself for a summer of discontent.

First of all he needs to stand up to an executive team who seem to be increasingly reliant on the advice of Kia Joorabchian.

Since Joorabchian client Edu was appointed technical director last summer, the ‘super-agent’ has helped Arsenal to sign David Luiz and Cedric Soares and pushed them to take on Philippe Coutinho and Willian.

But Arsenal’s recruitment policy has been an omnishambles for years and now they will probably have to sell their only world-class player before he leaves as a free agent.

Wednesday’s Etihad humbling has led to renewed calls for the club to launch a major clear-out this summer.

But, Aubameyang aside, who the hell is going to pay decent money for any of this lot?

And with a fourth year out of the Champions League looming, finances are about to become even tighter.

They have already imposed a 12.5 per cent pay cut on most of the players and are even laying off some of the scouting staff to save money.

Owner Stan Kroenke is up to his ears in debt after borrowing £550m to complete his Arsenal takeover and a further £400m for his LA Rams.

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HONEYMOON OVER?

So while Arteta might have plenty of ideas about what is needed to make Arsenal a competitive force again, most of his transfer targets are likely to be well beyond the club’s means.

He is fortunate he is enjoying an Emirates honeymoon period which means that Arsenal fan-boys still swoon at the mere mention of his name.

But he knows better than anyone that patience is not a virtue at Arsenal and it will only be a matter of time before the fans and the board turn.

His team have won just four of 11 Premier League games since he took command and were knocked out of the Europa League by Olympiakos.

They remain a country mile away from the top four and still have to play Wolves, Leicester, Spurs and Liverpool in the run-in.

So green activists probably shouldn’t put too much faith in Hector Bellerin’s pledge to plant 3,000 trees for every Arsenal win during the remainder of the season.

Is it too late to cancel Project Restart?