Midfielder · #16 · 31 yrs
Everyone now wants to play like how Pep Guardiola's teams play but Mikel Arteta has tried that for the last three years and he hasn't won the league. When you look at the job that Mikel has done, he mentions the noise and doubting himself, I think he deserves great credit for sticking with it.
Manager’s early seasons were far from plain sailing but insiders credit club’s owners for staying the courseIt didn’t start well for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. On a crisp December night in 2019 at about 1am in a Manchester suburb, Vinai Venkatesham stepped out of Arteta’s home. The Arsenal managing director looked around, satisfied with his meeting. Arteta had just outlined a “hugely impressive” five-year plan to rebuild a club reeling from Arsène Wenger’s departure and Unai Emery’s failed succession. Venkatesham stepped into his car and was driven away with his colleague Huss Fahmy.The club were about to take a huge gamble, but one with which they were increasingly comfortable. For many Arsenal executives, Arteta had won the interview round in 2018 when Wenger left. Yet it seemed too much to ask a 36-year-old rookie to manage a seismic transition and Emery had pedigree and experience; Arteta had charisma and a strong playing record. Continue reading...
As the full-time whistle went on the south coast, there was an explosion of cheer in pubs across north London as Arsenal fans celebrated a moment they felt, after recent title near misses, might never come. There were celebrations also at the Gunners' training ground. The title win came in Mikel Arteta's seventh year in charge, and underlined just what can be achieved if a manager is given time.
This time last year, after a narrow win over Newcastle in the final Arsenal home game of a difficult season, manager Mikel Arteta, deflated but defiant, microphone in hand on the Emirates Stadium pitch, vowed that his side would come back stronger.
