Mikel Arteta has been backed to match Arsene Wenger’s longevity at Arsenal by his former Gunners teammate Lukas Podolski.
Arteta and Podolski made 58 appearances together for Arsenal across two seasons, culminating in them winning the FA Cup in 2014.
The duo were managed under the tutelage of the legendary Arsene Wenger, where Arteta would have done a fair amount of his learning ahead of becoming a manager himself.
Podolski has now tipped Arsenal’s Spanish manager to follow in the footsteps of Wenger by staying at the Emirates Stadium for many years.
Lukas Podolski hopes Mikel Arteta will stay at Arsenal for a long time
Lukas Podolski is hopeful that Mikel Arteta will remain at Arsenal for many years to come, and the former Gunners star believes he can emulate Wenger’s stay in N5.
Of course, Wenger managed an incredible 22 years at Arsenal, which was the most by any Premier League coach in history.
Meanwhile, the former German international is also backing Arteta’s team to finally win the Premier League title this season.
When asked by www.arsenal.com about the Premier League title race, Podolski said: “There is a long way to go. You have to be motivated, you have to be calm and you have to be hungry every game, every single minute.
“When you want to achieve something, you have to be hungry every second.
Do you think Mikel Arteta can match Arsene Wenger’s legacy at Arsenal? 🤔
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“I think Mikel has the right motivation and mentality and it’s nice to see how he moves the whole club forward. I hope he can stay there for a long time like Arsene Wenger did.”
Towards the end of the Frenchman’s time in the capital, things turned slightly sour, but his record with the Gunners was undeniable.
Wenger took charge of 1,234 matches at Arsenal, winning 715 times, whilst also lifting three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups.
It was 2004 when Wenger and Arsenal last lifted the English top-flight title, but Arteta will believe this is finally the year the trophy returns to the North of the capital.
Mikel Arteta faces first major test in Premier League title race
However, Arteta is now facing Arsenal’s first major test in the race for the Premier League title after the Gunners suffered a defeat to Aston Villa.
Manchester City have now closed the gap at the top to just two points, with Arteta’s team looking rather leggy away at Villa Park.
How many wins will Arsenal secure in their final six matches of 2026?
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- Club Brugge (A)
- Wolves (H)
- Everton (A)
- Crystal Palace (H)
- Brighton (H)
- Aston Villa (H)
Arsenal are facing a relentless run of games this winter, with Club Brugge up next in the Champions League and then Wolves in the Premier League.
Arteta’s managerial credentials will now really be tested over the coming weeks, which could prove decisive with Pep Guardiola and City hunting them down.
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