Why Arsenal have done well by appointing Mikel Arteta as new manager
Mikel Arteta has officially been appointed as Arsenal’s new boss, as per BBC. The 37-year-old Spaniard held extensive negotiations with senior club officials over the past 72 hours.
Carlo Ancelotti was previously linked with the Gunners. Considering his many victories as a manager in the Champions League and across Europe, he would’ve been a viable option. However, Arsenal have appointed their former captain over the veteran winner.
That decision is quite bold but it’s reasonable to suggest that it is perhaps the correct one when comparing the two figures to the job requirements at the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta worked under the patronage of Pep Guardiola since 2016. While that obviously means he’s inextricable from Manchester City’s success and the footballing brand that has been built over those three years, it’s impossible to separate his influence completely.
Arteta’s tactical awareness and positional sense made him a key member of Wenger’s team and it was no surprise when he was handed the captain’s armband after Thomas Vermaelen’s move to Barcelona in 2014.
While Arteta is most certainly a risky hire, that is exactly what Arsenal need at this moment in time.
The club aren’t just stagnating anymore; they are very much in decline. Bringing in another manager like Unai Emery would do nothing but delay the inevitable. On the other hand, Arteta, who could incorporate more modern techniques on and off the pitch, is capable of changing Arsenal’s fortunes for the better since he has worked closely with the club in the past as a player.
Furthermore, Arteta speaks well and that would be a relief after Emery’s disastrous press conferences. The Spaniard would also be able to connect with the club’s fans in a better manner.
That said, Arteta would have a difficult job on his hands due to the squad’s current state and the overhaul that’s needed. It is arguably the main reason why he is more suited than Ancelotti. The Italian has spent most of his career acting as an overseer rather than an intensive coach leading a strenuous rebuild at a club.
Arsenal are currently unable to offer a healthy state for Ancelotti to come in and take over. He’d be required to essentially start from scratch and that could have been a concern. While Ancelotti’s CV is obviously remarkable, his achievements aren’t necessarily translatable to the current situation at the Emirates.
The Gunners have been out of the Champions League for three years and if they carry on with this decline, they will be heading for mid-table mediocrity for years to come. That is why they must do something different – and appointing Arteta is the perfect choice.
