Mikel Arteta has improved Arsenal, transformed the club on and off the pitch, and improved himself by ultimately putting them in a position to end their Premier League title drought.
Six years on, Mikel Arteta is managing a completely different Arsenal on and off the pitch.
Following football’s tradition of perfect timing, Arteta took over as Arsenal manager on December 20, 2019, and 24 hours later chose to watch his new team’s goalless draw at Goodison Park from the stands.
Arteta returns to Everton this weekend hoping for a win to remain top of the Premier League.
Rewind six years and Arsenal were stuck in mid-table, a rudderless ship with a club stuck in limbo under Unai Emery’s ill-fated reign that left fans disillusioned and disgusted.
Arteta admits he took over the club at a “difficult period in its history” and remains the Arsenal manager who was, in Napoleon’s words, “a good general” rather than lucky.
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In any other era, Arsenal would have won the title by now. They have three second-place finishes. But Arteta will be up against arguably the greatest manager of all time, Josep Guardiola, and arguably the best team of the Premier League era, Manchester City.
Under Arteta, Arsenal set a goalscoring record and finished the 2023/24 season with 89 points, just one place behind the Invincibles, making them the club’s second-highest points total in the club’s history. In a normal year, Arsenal would have been champions. However, City led by two points.
Arteta admits he didn’t know what would happen when he took over. This was his first senior coaching role and he was emerging from Guardiola’s shadow at City, with Arsenal struggling to recapture the glory days of Arsene Wenger.
But Arteta’s Arsenal revolution represents one of the most impressive feats and turnarounds in English football.
Arsenal fans used to fight among themselves. It was toxic. The boardroom wasn’t much better. And the locker room was even worse. Infighting, egos, and big stars not getting results.
Everton’s back four on that day consisted of Callum Chambers, David Luiz, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and left-back Bukayo Saka. With all due respect to these players, Arsenal have come this far.
Arteta won the FA Cup in his first season, which perhaps gave him some accolades to ease the turbulence of his first two full seasons in charge.
Had a capacity crowd been there when Arsenal lost at home to Burnley in December 2020 – perhaps the lowest point of Arteta’s reign – he might not have survived.
Rather, the club remains resolute and its stance should serve as a reminder to other clubs that change takes time.
The biggest thing Arteta has achieved is reconnecting with the fans. It was Arteta who championed the little things that mattered, such as removing the Emirates drawer tunnel to make it not only more intimidating for opponents, but also to make the home fans feel closer to the players.
Arteta loves ‘North London Forever’, which Arsenal have tried to make into their anthem. The heartbreaking second line, “Whatever the Weather,” isn’t for everyone, but the majority sing it before games.
If you think Arteta isn’t that intense, you’re kidding. But from the perspective of those who watch him up close, he’s good at dealing with players. Previously, he was accused of lacking humility and could be seen as arrogant.
Arteta has surpassed that. Yes, he was brutal in releasing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. But this was a point of principles and standards. Even Arsenal’s biggest star cannot afford to be late. That created a new atmosphere.
Arteta is calm on the touchline. Newcastle have been booked less than Arsenal’s 20 after receiving six red cards in the Premier League last season and were deemed undisciplined, and Newcastle are the only team yet to receive a red card.
This is a change of direction, and a very intentional one. Last season, Arsenal lost their lives to a red card in an important match. Particularly noteworthy was when Manchester City played with 10 men for the entire second half after Leandro Trossard’s sending off, and then conceded an equalizer at the end.
They still have to deal with injury issues. Some people are unlucky. But others are beyond that. For example, why would they need to play Ben White four times in 11 days when he just returned from injury?
A step-down in team management and training is essential if Arsenal want to avoid further injuries derailing their title challenge.
Off the pitch, the recruitment drive was bold and ambitious. It was another big summer, with the club hierarchy spending big money to sign the likes of Victor Gokeres and Martin Zvimendi. When it looked like the business was done, they bought Eberechi Eze and Piero Hincapie.
No one can blame the club for not supporting him. But it also raises the expectation level. Arteta is expected to win big trophies this season and will have to withstand the pressure.
After all, this is the longest period since the end of the war, 21 years, without Arsenal winning a title. To become a full-fledged club, we cannot continue any longer. But Arteta will be the first to admit it. That’s his way of thinking.
Arteta’s revolution has transformed Arsenal in six rollercoaster years. If he can complete the final step, he will deserve his place as one of the club’s greatest managers ever.
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