Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been influenced by a lot of top-class coaches throughout his entire footballing career.
Arteta’s playing career saw him play for several clubs across different leagues and countries, with differing styles of play.
A graduate of the La Masia Academy in Barcelona, Arteta also played for Glasgow Rangers, Real Sociedad and Everton before moving to Arsenal to play under Arsene Wenger.
After he retired, Arteta began working with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Having featured under managers as varied as David Moyes and Wenger, this allowed him to gain extra tactical insight.
As a result, Arteta has implemented an adaptable approach when it comes to his tactical setup. His Arsenal side scored more than any other in Premier League campaign last season, but they were not afraid to defend.
Critics have highlighted the defensive nature of Arsenal in big games under Arteta, which is a far cry from Wenger’s brave but sometimes naive setup, and it is a different manager who has influenced this part of his management.
Mikel Arteta explains Jose Mourinho’s influence on his managerial career
Speaking in a press conference days after Arsenal drew 2-2 away at Manchester City in a defensive masterclass, Arteta responded when asked whether former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had influenced his managerial style.
“You learn a lot from all the top coaches and you try to understand why they’ve been successful and what really touches that team that makes it special and consistent, especially at this level, and the amount of games we play,” Arteta stated.
“You might have an idea of where the game will go, but if it goes in a different direction, do you have the ability to adapt and be happy to play that game. Because that is the level we are in.”
Arsenal comparisons to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan masterclass
The comparisons have been drawn after Arsenal’s performance at Man City, which saw them engage in a low block to shut City out after Leandro Trossard’s red card, which brought back memories of Mourinho’s tactics in big games.
Mourinho famously thwarted Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona with a similar performance during his time at Inter Milan. Mourinho’s side went away to Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2010, with a 3-1 lead on aggregate from the first leg.
Thiago Motta was sent off for Inter in the first half, but they engaged in a tight low block which frustrated Guardiola’s team, who could not break them down before Inter progressed to the final.
Arteta engaged in similar tactics in the draw at the Etihad, focusing solely on defence to protect the lead, and stopped Guardiola’s side from attacking in their usually lethal manner.
It is something of a surprise to see Arteta draw influence from Mourinho, given his fractured past with Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger.
Arsene Wenger’s feud with Jose Mourinho
During his time at Arsenal, Wenger forged rivalries with several other managers, and whilst his feud with Sir Alex Ferguson also came with a lot of respect, his hostile relationship with Jose Mourinho was pure hatred.
Both managers engaged in a war of words whenever Mourinho was coaching in the Premier League, and they even had a physical altercation on the touchline as Arsenal clashed with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Wenger and Mourinho were polar opposites. Wenger employed a free-flowing, attacking style which produced beautiful football, whilst Mourinho was not afraid to make enemies with his defensive style to frustrate the opponent.
Arteta’s Arsenal are a blend of both styles, with players such as Martin Odegaard capable of producing magical skills in big victories, whilst rugged defenders in the mould of Gabriel Magalhaes are able to keep the ball away from the Arsenal box when needed.
Although Arteta never played under Mourinho, he clearly saw the benefit of being able to shut out the opposition with extreme defensive football in certain situations, without straying too far from Wenger’s emphasis on attack.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
