Arsenal have seen numerous wins over the past few decades, and with their current coach Mikel Arteta, the Gunners seem destined for more glory in the upcoming seasons.
Top-division English football boasts several different title-winning teams over the years, many of which have held the trophy on more than one occasion. Arsenal, or ‘The Gunners’, have won the Premier League title three times, but they won another 10 titles before the league rebrand in 1992.
The Gunners have had some magnificent yet tumultuous seasons and with the arrival of Arsene Wenger in the late 90s, they soared to remarkable heights as a high-performing team, with only a few teams like Manchester United and Liverpool able to compete.
That being said, the team is under new management now after the departure of a few trial-and-error coaches. The current head coach – Mikel Arteta – has a lot to live up to and some might say Arsene Wenger’s shadow still lingers at the Emirates Stadium, making it that more imperative that Arteta pulls up his socks and brings the team up a level. The club are still trying to win their first title since ‘the invincibles’, as they were once coined, during an amazing winning run during the 2003/04 season.
In the late 90s and early 2000s, The Gunners had a commendable and enviable winning streak. First came after their awe-inspiring win ahead of Manchester United in 1998. Then in 2002, the team won both the FA Cup and the Premier League, before the invincible season in 2004.
During his tenure as Arsenal manager, Wenger’s team had a record seven FA Cup wins, they won two doubles and they even made it to the 2006 Champions League Final and had a flawless 2003/04 season.
Then came his departure in 2018. This was after the team struggled in successive league campaigns that left fans and stakeholders wondering if they would ever see another league title again. With plenty of options left for The Gunners to choose from, they went on to select Unai Emery, who had a dismal stint at the club and was later relieved of his position in 2019. That being said, the odds of Arsenal winning games and making their way to the top of the table now seem to be looking up.
Enter Mikel Arteta and the 2019/2020 season. The Gunners currently hold the seventh position in the Premier League, and with Arteta as their manager, fans have high hopes that they may have a fighting chance closer to the top. Mikel took over when the club was 11th.
According to the vibrant young coach, the team needs a lot of work to get back into shape and start winning games, which is precisely what its major stakeholders are looking forward to.
The team does have the talent, but they need to be vying for major trophies at the top of the League. The Gunners have seen their odds get better with time, putting them on a par in head-to-head games with teams that were previously strong favourites.
For Mikel Arteta, this team has given him a chance to not only showcase his training and managerial skills, but it has also given him a platform to bring an underdog team back to glory.
The Gunners are certainly considered among the big-six clubs. That being said, the head coach knows he has a lot riding on his shoulders as expectations from the fans could be overwhelming at times. After all, he has no previous managerial experience, a qualification (or lack thereof) that might leave many sceptical as to whether he’s ready for the challenge.
Everybody loves a winning team, and underdogs are the most loved of all competitors. Arsene Wenger led The Gunners to soaring heights, but, as with everything in life, there were some upheavals during his 22 years as the team’s leader.
It seems conceivable that the underdogs may now be getting their mojo back, with a manager who worked as an assistant coach alongside one of the greats, Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Arteta also had his share of accolades as a player, making 150 appearances for Arsenal and winning a couple of FA Cups.
It remains to be seen just how well this talent will translate to managerial finesse.