Mikel Arteta, who was then an assistant coach under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, faced a daunting task when he was appointed Arsenal manager five years ago today, succeeding Unai Emery. The Spaniard inherited a club languishing in 10th place in the Premier League.
“I was probably terrified,” Arteta confessed, recalling his initial feelings. “You haven’t coached anybody at the highest level… without any preparation, without a coaching staff, you get asked to take this amazing and big job.”
Despite the initial trepidation, Arteta guided Arsenal to FA Cup glory in his debut season. However, the following year proved challenging, with the club finishing eighth.
A gradual resurgence followed, culminating in consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League. Arteta attributed this success to a significant cultural shift within the club.
“What I did was basically ask… to give me their opinion of how they feel to work in this football club,” he explained. “It was clear that it had to be changed. [It was pivotal] because that was the roots of the football club.”
Arteta’s focus on establishing a strong foundation has laid the groundwork for Arsenal’s recent success. They will look to continue their positive momentum when they face Crystal Palace in their upcoming Premier League match on December 21.
