ART & CRAFT

Wenger: Mikel will have great future at Arsenal.. he’s learned plenty from coaching alongside Pep

ARSENE WENGER is backing Mikel Arteta to be a success as Arsenal boss. The Gunners legend, who signed Arteta (left) during his 22-year reign at the club, outlined his qualities and said the former midfielder has a great future. Manchester City coach Arteta, 37, is about to take over at Arsenal after agreeing a three-and-ahalf year deal. The club are ready to announce it before Saturday’s trip to Everton, even though City claimed last night there had been on official approach from the Emirates. However, the Blues did say they would not stand in his way if wanted to make the switch.

Wenger said: “Arteta has certainly a great future, he has learned a lot in his first position as an assistant coach. “He will have to deal with the fact he has no experience at that level and he will have to get surrounded well, have a good environment at the club.

The most important thing is that every club, Arsenal especially, is built on special values. Inside the club, people have to take care of that. That is the most important thing.

“What makes a club great is the values of the club. You have to be faithful to that and he will have to respect that.

“The club has to make the right decisions. It is built on good values and good players. The club has to get those two together.

“I will support him, just as I have supported Freddie Ljungberg and I support Arsenal.”

Wenger (above, with Arteta) is sad to see his club stuck in mid-table after he led them to three titles and made them European heavyweights.

But the Frenchman refused to be critical of his successor Unai Emery, sacked after 18 months in charge.

He added: “I have given a big part of my life to the club.

“Let’s not forget we were 20 consecutive years in the top four. The last year was more difficult, but we had stability.

“What you need to find is consistency now. Arsenal are going through a difficult period. It’s better I don’t comment too much on that. I just suffer, like every other supporter.

“I don’t want to judge Emery. When Unai was in charge, I supported him. He was unlucky because he had a bad spell. When you don’t win for a while, a manager always has to reduce the crisis time because patience is short. I felt sorry for him.

“When I left, the club was in a very strong financial position and they bought many players. They have not all worked out.

“It’s not a question of time. The change can be efficient very quickly, it’s just about the right decision-making and that’s all it’s about in football, it’s about good players.

“We speak about the success of Liverpool, of course they have a great manager, but you have to say that in the last three, four years, they bought the right players.”

Arsenal star Pierre-emerick Aubameyang’s brother Willy questioned the appointment of Arteta on social media saying: “Ljungberg, Arteta is the same. No experience.”