Mikel Arteta 'thinks he's going to get the sack', according to body language expert

Mikel Arteta was furious and showed serious signs of concern over his future following Arsenal's loss to Bournemouth, according to a body language expert.

Following Arsenal's surprise loss to Bournemouth in a Premier League clash at the Emirates on Saturday, the Gunners have now lost three of their last four matches and have been knocked out of both domestic cups in the process.

Manchester City picking up three points during their away trip to Stamford Bridge the following day leaves them just six points behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race, with a game in hand.

The sudden fall off in form in recent weeks has led to questions regarding Arteta's ability to lead Arsenal to their first trophy in six years and his future as manager of the London club.

And according to body language expert Darren Stanton, the Spaniard is well aware of this fact and knows that he is going to get the sack unless he can turn things around.

“We saw him flash expressions of real anger," Stanton told OLBG, analysing Arteta's post-match press conference after the loss to Bournemouth.

"He was absolutely furious at this team for what happened against Bournemouth, but it’s not just this result. He is so angry for what has become of them in recent games, even before this latest setback.

“But Arteta was actually holding back. We can see lip suppression where he wants to say things that he knows he can’t so we see the effort around his lips to prevent himself for letting anything slip out.”

Arteta showed signs of anxiety and anger after the loss to Bournemouth. (Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

With a trip to the Etihad to face City coming next weekend, Arsenal will need to get at least one point to avoid a potentially catastrophic scenario that would place the title race in City's hands with just one month left in the season.

And Stanton claims that Arteta's body language shows he knows just how important the coming weeks could be, as signs of anxiety and frustration show signs that he knows he hasn't got long left as manager.

“We can see he knows this loss to Bournemouth is not going to put him in a good light as the manager,” added Stanton.

“We see pierced lips, increased blink rate which has effectively doubled, and clear signs of stress and anxiety over his own situation. He is feeling the pressure.

“There are clear expressions of contempt too. He doesn’t want to be doing this interview. He is unhappy at having to front up for what has happened and give this reporter the time of day.

“He thinks he is going to get the sack at this rate given the position his Arsenal team had been in just a few weeks, the money that has been spent on players he wanted, and the signs of this are overt.

“It’s clear there is a big internal shift going on in Arteta’s emotions. It is as if, mentally, he is pacing from side to side, exercising all this anxiety, frustration and anger. Arteta is giving off all the signals of someone who doesn’t believe he’s going to be around for much longer.”

Arsenal host Sporting in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash on Wednesday ahead of their trip to the Etihad on Sunday, April 19.