Mikel has being boss down to a fine Art

LET me nail my colours to the mast as Arsenal prepare to head to St James Park for the battle between my old two clubs.

I am prepared to make a bold statement and it is this: Mikel Arteta will become one of the all-time managerial greats!

There you are. I have gone out on a limb. Despite Arsenal losing the critical north London derby at Spurs which could have clinched their Champions League qualification.

One result hardly determines a manager’s future but it does make Newcastle’s task on Monday night that much harder because the Gunners are desperate to clinch maximum points from their last two games to hold off their bitterest rivals.

Nothing but victory over the Magpies will suffice, a bit like when Manchester City bounced back from dreadful disappointment at Real Madrid by slaughtering United. Let us pray it is not more of the same.

Arteta has learned from the greats, playing five years under Arsene

Wenger at Arsenal and then coaching at the side of Pep Guardiola.

He must have gleaned so much from them but he has gone on to add his own dimension. He has guts, the courage a top manager requires. The way Arteta handled the Pierre-emerick Aubameyang situation really impressed me. Here was a world-renowned player, a natural goalscorer, his skipper, but yet when he went out of line his manager showed him the door.

That must have made Arsenal’s young players sit up and take notice and they have responded magnificently. Some people have criticised Arteta but not me. He has pedigree, class and an underlying steeliness. However, this is Newcastle’s last home match of the season and they will be desperate to go out with a bang.

They will want to make a statement by beating Arsenal and getting the bad taste of Liverpool a n d Manchester City out of their system.

Honestly, I cannot pay enough respect to City who, having suffered the shock of Champions League elimination by Real Madrid when they looked to have won, recovered from bitter disappointment to hit five against United and Wolves in their next two games.

The truth of the matter is Newcastle are nowhere near City or Liverpool but everyone inside SJP must look towards those two clubs and aspire to what they are. From the directors and manager, to coaches and players. They are the benchmark.

What Arsenal have which is also worth copying is a wonderful youth system.

I know United are going to upgrade their academy etc and that is good but they must have the best people on tap as well to find the great young players

the North East is famous for and sign them to their local club.

Think of all the locals down the passage of time Bobby and Jack Charlton, Ralph Coates and Dave Thomas, Alan Shearer and Michael Carrick. All escaped to benefit other clubs.

Newcastle actually had three of the very best in Gazza, Peter Beardsley and Chris Waddle and sold the three of them to make a quick buck. Luckily those days have gone.

Eddie Howe is a young manager like Arteta who is making his way in the game and he can go a long way too.

This is his big opportunity because while he did wonders at Bournemouth many will say that was on a smaller stage. Now he is in the big time.

I am really looking forward to the summer once we get Arsenal and Burnley out of the way. Having secured survival that is the next step forward.

Some people have criticised Arteta but not me. He has pedigree, class and an underlying steeliness Supermac