Arsenal's hierarchy have reportedly set a deadline for manager Mikel Arteta to improve the club's fortunes.

The 39-year-old has become the bookmakers' favourite to be the next Premier League manager sacked, after a disappointing exit from the Europa League semi-finals last week.

Arsenal are now at risk of failing to qualify for a European competition for the first time in 25 years, and there is still a chance that the club could end this season inside the bottom half of the table.

Despite a poor 2020-21 campaign, Gunners owner Stan Kroenke and technical director Edu are still convinced that Arteta is the right man to take the club forward.

According to The Sun, the Spaniard is not in immediate danger of losing his job, although if the club cannot improve on this season's inevitable mid-table finish heading into 2022, then they will be on the lookout for a new head coach.

By the end of this year, Arteta will have overseen four transfer windows since his appointment in December 2019, and the Arsenal board believe that he will have had plenty of time to implement his own philosophy on the team.