Mikel Arteta has been mentioned as Arsene Wenger’s successor and Arsenal fans seem pretty split on the rumour.
First, you have the head versus heart argument.
Most Gooners would absolutely love someone like Arteta to become Arsenal boss. He’s classy, professional and genuinely adores the club.
However, the 35-year-old has only been at Manchester City for 18 months. The ex-midfielder has no major managerial experience and we have no way of really knowing how he would get on if he was to just fall into the role once Wenger retires in 2019.
Would Mikel Arteta be a good successor to Arsene Wenger at Arsenal?
— Crippy Cooke (@CrippyCooke) December 19, 2017
However, always one to play devil’s advocate, I managed to think up five pretty valid reasons why Arteta would be a good replacement for Le Professeur.
1Firm but fair
Arteta wasn’t always the best captain during his time playing for Arsenal.
However, his injury woes had a lot to do with this. It must have been difficult to help gee up his teammates when he was uncertain how much longer he would even be playing.
Even then, he was a calm yet passionate voice in the dressing room, would hang around behind the scenes even when sidelined and was widely respected by players and staff.
2Arsenal roots
Although Arteta only joined Arsenal in 2011, it felt as if he’d been at the club his entire career. Everything from his style of play to class was completely Arsenal and his move from Everton must have been a no-brain.
With players and managers rarely staying at clubs for more than a handful of seasons, it would be nice to have a familiar face return and take the reigns.
3Pep reckons he’s well good
Pep Guardiola has been mates with Arteta for years, hence why the Spaniard invited Arteta to join him at Manchester City. And Pep’s also been bigging the former midfielder up in the press recently and crediting him with Raheem’s Sterling’s good form.
“I think Raheem is enjoying scoring goals,” Guardiola said. “He’s not scared, he’s not afraid to take a risk.
“And now he’s seeing how fun, how good it is to score goals. Now he’s more focused on that.
“Mikel Arteta is working many, many hours and days after training specifically about the last action on the pitch – that control in the last moment to make the right movement in the final three or four metres.
“Raheem has wanted to stay there on the training pitch, to improve, to practise, to shoot at the goalkeepers.
“It’s part of the mentality he needs. He knows a striker has to score goals and he has to do that if he wants to achieve the next step.
“You won’t survive in the high level teams in his position if you don’t score goals.”
I think it’s fair to say that Pep knows his stuff.
4He snubbed Spurs
Pochettino on Arteta:
"I love him and he loves me. We have a v.good relationship, but I never speak about rumours.” pic.twitter.com/l9YRtZVhLt
— Messi Minutes (@MessiMinutes) April 18, 2016
5Hair goals
Finally, and probably the most important point. Our hair-quality average has really plummeted since Arteta left.
We have Hector Bellerin with his ponytail and Mesut Ozil with his blonde highlights… Arteta needs to come back and show them how it’s done.