Arteta demands an instant impact
Mikel Arteta is ready for the challenge after returning “home” to Arsenal as their new head coach.
The 37-year-old Spaniard, a former Rangers player and Gunners captain, has left his role as assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City to agree a three-and-a-half-year contract to succeed Unai Emery, who was sacked last month.
At his unveiling yesterday afternoon at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta said: “I feel back home. I am extremely happy and proud to have been given the honour of being manager of this football club.
“I have prepared for the challenge and am ready. If I didn’t feel that, I would not be sitting in this chair.
“I have to engage the players. When I was here with Man City (for last Sunday’s Premier League match) everyone was a bit down. We have to have the right culture here. If we don’t then the tree will shake.
“After that we can talk about other things. We need an immediate impact and need to raise the level of the performances to start winning games and engage with the fans.”
Arteta cited his former boss, City manager Guardiola, as an influence as he set out what is required at Arsenal. “What I have learned mostly is you have to be ruthless, consistent and fit the culture of the club to sustain a winning mentality,” he said.
“Every act is important. Pep’s workrate is incredible. The staff have to be able to transmit it and when (the players) buy into that, you can be strong.”
Arteta played more than 100 times for Arsenal – his final club before retiring. He joined City’s coaching staff in 2016 and will now embark on his first managerial post at his old club.
Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to City increased the need for the Gunners to end the uncertainty over the manager’s position, leaving the club as close to the relegation zone as they are to the top four.
Interim head coach Freddie Ljungbergreplacedemerybut won just one of his four league games at the helm, while the club are on a run of only one win from their last 12 fixtures.