Struggling in the league, the Gunners announced Friday, December 20, to put the fate of the club in the hands of a former home, former Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta. With no coaching experience, he replaces Freddie Ljungberg, who has served as interim head of the London club since the dismissal of Unai Emery in late November.
"Welcome back, Mikel! " (“Welcome back, Mikel!”) Wrote the red and white club on their Twitter account to confirm that their 37-year-old former captain will be charged with the daunting task of reviving a sticky 10 club.e Premier League place, with 22 points in 17 days.
After being trained at Barça, then wearing the jerseys of Paris-Saint-Germain, the Glasgow Rangers or Everton, Mikel Arteta had played almost 150 games with Arsenal from 2011 to 2016, notably winning two English Cups. When he retired as a player three and a half years ago, he became Pep Guardiola's assistant in Manchester City.
"It is a huge honor. Arsenal is one of the biggest clubs in the world. We want to be competitive to win the biggest trophies, this was very clearly explained to me during my interviews with the club's management ", commented Arteta.
"You have to follow your dreams"
Mikel Arteta was to "Pursue your dream", Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola reacted on Friday. "He decided to go there (at Arsenal). When you have dreams, you can't stop them. We must pursue them. "
The Spanish technician, reluctant to let his assistant go, could not prevent his compatriot from accepting his first coaching contract at a club where he spent five years as a player. "Arsenal has been important in his career, being one of the best teams in Europe, continued the Citizens' coach. I wish him the best for the future. I'm sure he will do a great job. "
The Basque had almost been chosen to replace Arsène Wenger when he left eighteen months after twenty-two years at the helm of the Gunners, but part of the management had finally preferred the experience of Unai Emery.
The novice coach inherits a team with no clear playing identity on the field, and who have not shown much soul or character since the start of the season. His first game will be played tomorrow on Everton lawn, while his debut on the bench in the Emirates Stadium lair will have to wait until January 29 for a shock against Chelsea.
