Secret Service
MIKEL ARTETA has never met Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa – either socially or in the dugout.
And although this afternoon’s trip to Elland Road changes all that, the Arsenal manager claims he already knows loads about the Argentinian – both as a character and a master tactician.
Bielsa is a guru for all the great modern-day coaches including Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola.
Arteta, having been Guardiola’s assistant at City for more than three years, holds him in the same high regard.
And he is particularly well versed in Bielsa’s unique, muchlauded attributes thanks to a close pal – whose identity remains classified information.
He said: ”I haven’t spent any time with Bielsa but I know many players who have. One of my best friends spent many, many years with him.
“So I know a lot about his methods, who he is as a person and as a manager. I’ve admired him for many, many years.
“I have followed his work, his ways of playing, the way he is able to change a club immediately with his mentality, the messages he sends and his charisma.
“I’ve been impressed with what he’s done in England since he joined Leeds.
He’s transformed the belief of everyone at the club – that they could come back and be the club they were a few years ago.”
Bielsa is renowned for finding out everything he possibly can about opponents by fair or foul means.
Two seasons ago he was caught sending a spy to Derby’s training ground so there was a sense of irony as Arteta stayed tight-lipped when asked to name his secret
Bielsa source. “I prefer not to say… but he worked as a player and then next to him,” added the Spaniard.
Arteta, 38, is building his own reputation as a manager after swapping the No.2 role at The Etihad for the Arsenal hotseat last December.
He said: “You get the education from the coaches you had in your playing career.
“Then you start to follow and contact managers all over the world with different ideas to learn and see what fits in your culture and your way of watching and understanding the game.
“There’s a bit of a mix but something has to be within you – your beliefs – and then you can take some details from somebody else.”
If Arteta enjoyed a flying start to life in North London, winning the FA Cup, this season is proving far more testing.
The Gunners are in mid-table and were beaten 3-0 at home by Aston Villa just before the international break.
Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang’s goal drought is now a serious headache too. Since signing his new deal, he has scored once in the league – and that was a penalty.
“We need to help him more and he knows there are things he needs to improve in his game to be more decisive,” said Arteta.
“It will come. I haven’t known a striker that for 10 years never had a period when he’s not scoring.
“It’s about how quickly you come back to what you have.”