On Friday, one day before the clash with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrated his fifth year anniversary as the Gunners. Five days before his appointment, Mikel Arteta, who also played for Arsenal for five years (2011–2016), was sitting alongside Pep Guardiola as his assistant during the derby against the Gunners at the Etihad, which Manchester City comfortably won 3-0. Even then, Arteta witnessed firsthand the decline Arsenal had suffered under Unai Emery, but he wasn’t deterred. He saw it as a challenge, had a vision for how to restore Arsenal to its winning ways, and implemented it. He transformed a mid-table team into one once again competing for the Premier League title—a remarkable achievement in such a competitive environment.”It was my first major managerial job, and I took it mid-season. I understood the gravity of the situation. I just wanted to ensure I was capable of doing something meaningful. Honestly, I was terrified. I had never coached at the highest level, it was mid-season with no preparation, no established team of collaborators, and I was stepping into an enormous, daunting role” Arteta recalls.Commitment. Accountability. Passion.Five incredible years of Mikel Arteta – here’s to many more memorable moments ❤️ pic.twitter.com/0nSzavPTsZ— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 20, 2024 Later that season, Arsenal won the FA Cup, signaling that Arteta’s London project was on the right track. Over the past five years, he has also claimed two Community Shields. When he took over, the team was 10th in the table, and the locker room was in disarray after Emery’s tenure, which had failed to manage the egos of certain stars. Arteta had to bring a “big broom” with him, as there was much to clean up. There was no other choice for Arteta; he had to stay afloat despite the heavy burdens he carried from the outset.Arteta got us all in a room and yelled at us, he was a manager even before he became oneIn his first season, alongside the FA Cup triumph, he led the team to an eighth-place finish. However, in his second season, he experienced the full weight and bitterness of the job. At one point during the 2020/21 campaign, Arsenal endured a run of eight losses in 12 matches. Yet, the management, led by the Kroenke family, showed patience and refrained from pulling the trigger. It’s worth noting that this was during the peculiar COVID-19 period, marked by player dissatisfaction. Arteta had to make tough decisions, parting ways with experienced but expensive players like Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolašinac, and Sokratis Papastathopoulos. The following season, he made even bolder cuts, including Mesut Özil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.Arteta invites Cazorla, he puts him on holdAubameyang posed a particular challenge, often arriving late to training and even to pre-season preparations. The breaking point came in winter 2022 when Arteta stripped him of the captaincy and terminated his contract in February. The extent of Arteta’s overhaul is evident from the fact that only Bukayo Saka remains from the lineup of his first game in charge, a Boxing Day 2019 clash against Bournemouth. Reiss Nelson, meanwhile, is on loan at Fulham. Despite the difficulties, the progress was noticeable season after season. After finishing eighth in his first season, Arsenal climbed to fifth the next, and then twice finished as runners-up, breathing down Manchester City’s neck in the title race.Arteta’s big ‘what if?’ – the Basque reflects on international career and embracing EnglandLast season, Arsenal conceded only 29 goals—their best defensive record in the past 20 years. While the team’s creative, attacking, and fluid style often garners attention, their defensive improvement has been equally significant, showcasing the balance Arteta has brought. Slowly earning the management’s trust, he has built a team that is once again a title contender. Arsenal currently sits third in the table, six points behind leaders Liverpool, though Liverpool has a game in hand. It’s an excellent position heading into 2025.”Everything has happened so quickly, and I’m truly grateful to be in this position. I still have much to learn and improve. I believe the best is yet to come” Arteta said optimistically.Five years ago today Mikel Arteta was announced as the Arsenal manager.Five years on and the club is in the best position it’s been in, in the last decade.The next five years are going to be even better with Mikel Arteta being the man to lead us to major trophies, I have no… pic.twitter.com/WIhenAMdCJ— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) December 20, 2024 Ahead of the visit to Crystal Palace, Arteta was asked what has changed the most during his five-year tenure.”From my perspective, we are, above all, more united, connected, and now fighting on major fronts. That wasn’t the case at the beginning. It’s a positive development, but there’s still much to do. I’m here because of my passion for the job, my love for football and this club, and my desire to be the best version of myself every day. Everything we’ve built has been a collective effort, with many contributing to it, and we all share the hunger and ambition. Now it’s time to take things to the next level,” Arteta explained.EFL Cup: Sweet Jesus, that boy singlehandedly saved ArsenalIn other words, it’s time for Arteta’s Arsenal 2.0—a fine-tuned version aiming to compete for the ultimate prizes. The next step always starts with the next game. Arsenal and Crystal Palace recently faced each other in the League Cup on Wednesday, with Arsenal winning 3-2 at the Emirates. Now they meet again, with Palace sitting 15th in the table and desperate for points.”It’s a bit unusual to play the same team twice in a row. We’ve analyzed them; there isn’t much new to adjust from the previous game. I’m sure both teams will make some tweaks. We know what it means to play at Selhurst Park, and we’re ready for it” Arteta concluded. The Gunners will be without the injured Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu but will have Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori, and Oleksandr Zinchenko available. As for the hosts, they’ll miss injured players Eberechi Eze, Joel Ward, Franco Ume-Chibueze, Adam Wharton, Matheus França de Oliveira, and Chady Riyad Doucouré. Daniel Muñoz will also sit out due to suspension after accumulating five yellow cards.ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 17Saturday15:30: (3.50) Aston Villa (3.60) Man.City (2.15)18:00: (2.35) Brentford (3.50) Nott.Forest (3.15)18:00: (4.60) Ipswich (3.90) Newcastle (1.73)18:00: (2.90) West Ham (3.75) Brighton (2.40)20:30: (5.70) Crystal Palace (4.00) Arsenal (1.67)Sunday17:00: (5.30) Everton (4.00) Chelsea (1.63)17:00: (1.45) Fulham (4.50) Southampton (7.00)17:00: (2.55) Leicester (3.65) Wolverhampton (2.75)17:00: (1.90) Man.Utd. (3.70) Bournemouth (4.40)19:30: (4.10) Tottenham (4.40) Liverpool (1.80)***odds are subject to change***
