On this very day three years ago, Arsenal took a huge gamble and appointed Mikel Arteta as our new head coach. On our boss’ third anniversary, we take a trip down memory lane.
The Spaniard was given the Gunners job even though he had no experience as a manager at the top level. It really was a big risk and there have been plenty of bumps along the way, but three years on now, we’re glad that we went down that route.
We’ve got super Mik Arteta!
Arsenal release an amazing video to celebrate three years of Mikel Arteta
On Arteta’s third anniversary today, Arsenal released a brilliant three-minute video to celebrate all the good things the Spaniard has achieved as our boss.
The video starts with snippets of the beginning and end of Arteta’s playing career at Arsenal with his stunner against Manchester City at the Emirates sandwiched in between.
“I remember the last time I was going down the tunnel with my kids in my arms,” Arteta says. “I said to my wife that one day, I’ll come back here as the manager.”
The video then skips to his first win as our boss – against Manchester United at the Emirates thanks to goals from Nicolas Pepe and Sokratis Papastathopoulos. After clips of a few goals from our star players, we’re taken back to the FA Cup final of 2020.
A stunning brace from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang against Chelsea in the final helped Arsenal and Arteta win the cup. It was a massive moment for the Spaniard, who got his hands on silverware just months after taking charge of the club. Tottenham, funnily, haven’t won anything for almost 15 years – we just thought we’ll add this in here.
As the video skips to Arsenal battering Spurs on two different occasions, Arteta says: “There are some things that have to have a blueprint. We have to have passion, we have to be dominant, we have to be aggressive. Then, we can create the identity that I have in my head for this football club.”
He then adds: “The opponents have to have fear to come to the Emirates. That’s what we have to do – create fear in the opponent, that’s a big advantage.”
Arteta then concludes by saying: “There was a lot of things that had to be done and they have been done. A lot of changes to make and a lot have been made. Now, it’s time to evolve, take them to the next level.
“Thank you so much for everybody, there is just one single direction – that’s unity. It’s so powerful.”
Arteta’s record as Arsenal manager
In all competitions:
- Games: 151
- Wins: 90
- Draws: 21
- Lost: 40
- GF: 267
- GA: 159
In the Premier League:
- Games: 109
- Wins: 61
- Draws: 17
- Lost: 31
- GF: 180
- GA: 117
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