Arteta will only Pep up his side if he can splash out
HE used to stand by his side as a trusted right-hand man. But last night in the Manchester rain Mikel Arteta took his place by Pep Guardiola as his equal.
The lieutenant is now Arsenal’s master and commander, a Premier League manager in his own right.
The significance of this moment would not have been lost on Arteta and he is ambitious to make a name for himself as a manager. He wants to step out of the massive shadow cast by his fellow Spaniard and carve out his own career as a successful coach.
While Arteta wants to do things his way, he has been imbued with some of Guardiola’s values.
Like his former mentor, he believes passionately in possession football and he loves to see moves involving many passes.
He also likes his full-backs to attack and help overload the midfield, which is another tactic employed by Guardiola.
Arsenal frustrated City, despite the disruption to Arteta’s game plan caused by losing Granit Xhaka and Pablo Mari in the opening stages, before Raheem Sterling made the breakthrough. However, the Basque is no Pep mini-me and unlike Guardiola, he is prepared to be outspoken.
He has not returned to Arsenal to make up the numbers and, on the eve of his return to City, he challenged the Gunners hierarchy to splash the cash in the transfer market.
Arsenal face missing out on Champions League football for a fourth successive season and Arteta knows that the gap between them and clubs such as City will only increase if they stand still.
Arteta has the talent to succeed at Arsenal, he just needs the club to give him the tools.