Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta opens up on the most difficult period of his managerial stint at Arsenal

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 21: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, looks dejected during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Southampton FC at Emirates Stadium on April 21, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta’s tenure at Arsenal, which began in late 2019 following Unai Emery’s departure, has evolved from a shaky start into a success story as the club now contends among the Premier League’s best. Arteta’s appointment initially sparked debate, with fans and critics doubting his suitability due to his inexperience. However, Arteta quickly set out to instil a new culture and mindset at Arsenal, which resonated with the club’s leadership. His ambition to shift Arsenal’s culture and values from the ground up helped him secure the trust and patience of the decision-makers at the Emirates, even amid challenging times.

Arteta’s journey with Arsenal has seen both highs and lows. Despite securing the FA Cup in his first season, there were stretches where the team’s performances dipped, and fans grew frustrated. However, the club’s consistent faith in Arteta has paid off, as he has transformed Arsenal into a consistent top-four contender, often regarded as one of the most competitive and stylistically impressive teams in the league today. arteta alone in thought

Reflecting on his toughest challenge since becoming Arsenal’s manager, Arteta pointed to the Covid-19 pandemic as a defining period. Speaking to TNT Sports, Arteta said, “And the most difficult thing for sure is when we had to go through Covid. The team, the club, we were in a difficult place, socially and on the sporting side. When Covid hit it made everything very, very difficult, not only for that period but for the following 12 months as well. I’m very proud of the way we navigated that period.” This period tested Arteta’s leadership as the club had to adapt to the unprecedented social and operational challenges the pandemic posed.

Arteta’s resilience and Arsenal’s collective patience through that period have paid dividends, as the team has grown stronger, and the culture he envisioned is now visible on the pitch. To complete this journey, Arsenal and its fans now hope to secure major trophies, which would be the ultimate testament to Arteta’s efforts to revive the club’s competitive edge.


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4 Comments

  1. There isn’t any an iota of doubt that, the poerers that are at Arsenal, have given Arteta enough time and support of 3 years to turnaround Arsenal from, being titles winning team fodders to a regular titles winning contenders.
    The result of this efforts making by both Arteta and the Arsenal Board us Arsenal are all witnessing now.
    For, Arsenal have in the last 2 consecutive Epl campaign seasons challenged the penieral Epl title winners Man City to wrest the title from them. As the Gunners had came within touching distance last season to wrestle the title off the Citizens’ hands.
    But no good luck yet for the Gunners to archive the feast. But will there be good luck for Arsenal to wrestle the title off Man City’s hands this season?
    Yes! I think the Gunners can and will wrestle the Premierer League title from Man City undeniably this campaign.
    And to this end and to achieving the heculian task. The Gunners MUSt beat the Magipies at St James Parlor in the Epl match encounter between the duo teams.
    Irrespective of Arsenal have lost one Epl match this season surprisingly to Bournemouth.
    But nevertheless and not withstanding, I thinly and strongly nurturing a believe in my thoughts that’s telling me that Arsenal can win the quadruple thus season. So be it for usunfailingly.

  2. The way Arteta showed mental strength, maturity, drive, leadership skills, focus and intelligence through the 2020-2021 covid period and season is why I have given him enough leeway to now. Then carried on through the 2021/22 season.

    He came in, put his foot down and started rebuilding our club back up to a decent level of respectability as we had become a complete joke in previous seasons. Absolute banter we had become from Top to Bottom. Everyone was making fun of us as a club and team before Arteta showed up and hit the “RESET” button.

    For that I am still very grateful.

  3. I think that Goonster has hit the nail on the head regarding pressing the reset button Neither am I surprised that Arteta mentioned Covid. It was a truly terrible time for everyone at a personal level. For a new manager negotiating that and his way at a top club that needed wholesale change must have been challenging indeed.

    Top4 had been the minimum expectation and sadly AW was unable to maintain it. The fan base turned and the club placed itself in a difficult position of its own making. Having appointed Emery, results improved even if it wasn’t a great watch. What followed was a terrible breakdown the following season which Emery couldn’t recover from. I believe he forewarned Arteta about the toxicity which was a decent thing to do.

    I remember the non negotiables and the steely determination and that sealed it for me with Arteta and he needed that through the pandemic.

    It’s fair to say that there were plenty of ups and downs – at times more downs than ups as Arteta had to show a ruthless side in order to stake his claim to being the one in charge rather than the other way round. The club had to have a stern look at itself as well and has since undergone a major restructuring and has with Arteta and Edu embarked on the transformation together.

    Looking at the difficulties faced by Utd after so many successful years under Fergie, there are obvious comparisons. Longevity can bring with it a vacuum afterwards. Utd haven’t been able to shake that off yet and we look to have done so in a much shorter space of time.

  4. He’s had tough times at Arsenal, but that goes with the job at a big club with aspirations to be the champions, doesn’t it?

    I think this season will be pivotal for him though. If Arsenal wins the title, then all the hard work and tackling the difficulties the article refers to will have been worthwhile. Should they fail, who knows?

    I think Arteta has been quite fortunate in that he’s been given resources and, most importantly, time by the owners. The latter is probably the most important commodity in football management.

    As we’ve seen there are less patient owners around – Utd comes to mind recently. There’s even talk now in Spain that Ancelotti could be out of Real Madrid in the summer. If so, that will the “chop” after winning two CLs, two league titles, the Spanish Cup and a host of other trophies since joining in summer 2021. A rather more challenging environment than coping with Covid?

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