Mikel Arteta has silenced sceptics by awakening the sleeping giant Arsenal and restoring the club to the summit of English football. Twenty-two years after Arsene Wenger's Invincibles era, Arsenal finally crossed the finish line, vindicating the project Arteta launched in 2019.
Arsenal bet on their former captain six and a half years ago, even though he had no coaching experience. Yet Arteta benefited from an exceptional apprenticeship alongside Pep Guardiola, his former Barcelona teammate. Guardiola, arriving at Manchester City a decade ago, sought out Arteta for his understanding of English football. Arteta once said: 'As a player and coach, he is an inspiration. I will always be grateful he gave me the opportunity to be his assistant.'
Unlike many modern managers, Arteta did not replicate Guardiola's philosophy. He built Arsenal on a foundation of solid defence and strength from set-pieces – reminiscent of the lessons David Moyes taught him at Everton. 'I learned from him, on and off the pitch, about building a team with the right characters,' Arteta recalled of Moyes.
In his first meeting with Arsenal's board, Arteta outlined a five-phase plan to return the club to the summit of the Premier League and Europe. He made an immediate mark by offloading seven players, including stars Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil, to improve dressing-room harmony. Winning the FA Cup a few months after taking charge bought him time, but it took another six years for silverware to arrive.
In his first season, Arsenal finished eighth – their worst placing in 25 years – and showed no improvement in the COVID-affected 2020/21 campaign. The following year, they missed out on Champions League qualification by finishing fifth. Despite three consecutive runner-up finishes, Arteta's ability to get over the line was questioned. He was often criticised for overly cautious tactics and his animated touchline behaviour.
Even this season, many believed Arsenal had lost their way after four straight league defeats in March and April, which saw them exit the FA Cup and League Cup while Manchester City re-entered the title race. But Arteta rallied his side, overhauling Guardiola to close in on what could be Arsenal's greatest season. If they beat Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on 30 May in Budapest, they will be European champions for the first time.
Arteta once said: 'Sometimes, a difficult start is better because you see the transformation and the joy of people. It's beautiful to witness.' The nearly-man of Arsenal has finally earned his moment to savour.
