The former Everton and Arsenal midfielder and captain Mikel Arteta is the new Arsenal boss, after long process of negotiations. Arteta is replacing fellow Spaniard Unai Emery, who was sacked after a string of bad results at the end of November. Interim manager Freddie Ljungberg had no better luck in getting results and only won one out of five games in charge. Arteta will start his stint at Arsenal on Sunday the 22nd after watching his new team take on Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday from the rafters.
Arteta joins Arsenal from Manchester City organization, where he was hired by Pep Guardiola as his assistant after the commanding midfielder had retired from Arsenal in the summer of 2016. Arteta’s knowledge of the Premier League was the deciding factor when Guardiola was looking for an assistant for his then triumphant Manchester City team. As a player, Arteta spent more than ten years in England, representing Everton and Arsenal – it’s only fitting his appointment comes ahead of the clash between those two teams, although he won’t be participating actively yet.
The Spaniard is well-known by Arsenal and he was one of the key figures of the team from 2011 until his retirement in 2016. Arteta is a commanding presence and his leadership skills were obvious already in his playing times and now he has learnt the managerial ropes from one of the best under guidance of Pep Guardiola. Arteta’s appointment has been met with almost universal applause as it looks that Arsenal finally got the manager they need and should’ve gone for already a year ago when he was shortlisted among Unai Emery.
However, the problems at Arsenal might not be over. Arteta’s command is something many of the players might not respond positively and in some cases the Spaniard is described as harsh and demanding. To be fair, that is exactly what the lackluster Arsenal needs at the moment. The squad is potential and talented, but the structure is missing altogether and there seems to be no leadership whatsoever. If nothing else, Arteta will bring that leadership and players will have to work their socks off to impress their new manager.
