Mikel Arteta’s 100th Arsenal match: Optimism is back with Spaniard boasting better record than Arsene Wenger
Mikel Arteta takes charge of his 100th Arsenal match on Sunday having already tasted victory more times than Arsene Wenger over the same span of Gunners games.
The Spaniard has enjoyed a remarkable turnaround in fortunes after overseeing the club’s worst ever start to a season, which left them pointless and below even Norwich after three Premier League fixtures.
Zero defeats in any competition since then have propelled them from 20th to sixth ahead of the visit of Watford, and into the last eight of the Carabao Cup, which saw them drawn at home to Sunderland, currently fifth in League One. Indeed, if other results go a certain way, Arsenal will end the weekend level on points with three of the clubs directly above them – both Manchester teams and West Ham.
It has been an extraordinary rollercoaster ride for the former Arsenal captain in his first managerial role, which saw him win the FA Cup within six months of succeeding Unai Emery and have to shut his ears to calls from fans to have him sacked three weeks into the current campaign.
“It has been an incredible journey to experience everything that we have been through together in this time,” Arteta said.
“My only focus here is finding and building the unity that I start to sense right now around the club because the rest is going to come.
“I have no doubt that the team is going to play well, compete and perform – and the rest will be a consequence.
“When I see happy faces around us every single day that, for me, is the biggest compliment.”
George Graham is the only Arsenal manager to have won more of his opening 100 games than Arteta; the Gunners triumphed in 56 under the Scot when reaching the milestone in 1988.
Arteta has won 53 of his 99, two more victories than Wenger oversaw in his opening century. Bertie Mee, who led Arsenal to the Double in 1971, won only 39 of his first 100 but Arteta was careful to pay homage to his title-winning predecessors, Wenger in particular.
“The levels of expectation that we have all the time are the best and are related to our history,” he said. “What Arsene did is going to live with us forever.
“It is necessary and positive for us because these are the demands and the standards we have to seek to achieve. We are on that road.”
Arteta: Errors helped Ramsdale
Arteta has revealed Aaron Ramsdale’s errors helped him make his big-money move to Arsenal as well as his saves.
Aaron Ramsdale saves a free kick taken by Leicester City’s James Maddison (Photo: AFP)
The England goalkeeper, 23, has played a huge part in the Gunners’ rise up the Premier League table.
Ramsdale ousted Bernd Leno as the club’s No 1 in September and has conceded just four goals in eight games.
Eyebrows were raised in August however when Arsenal paid £30m for a man relegated with both Bournemouth and Sheffield United.
Arteta revealed he had studied closely Ramsdale’s reaction to adversity before making up his mind. “I wanted to watch a lot of clips of after he conceded a goal, through making a mistake or through difficult moments,” he said. “One of the big reasons we decided to sign him was because he could cope with those.”
Ramsdale has quickly become a fan favourite, through his enthusiasm as well as his technical ability.
“His competitiveness on the pitch brings the crowd to a different level because they see his desire to win,” Arteta said. “It is the mentality we need.”
Arsenal fans have also been revelling in Tottenham’s troubles, which were summed up by a limp derby capitulation at the Emirates Stadium in late September.
Spurs have jettisoned three managers in Jose Mourinho, Ryan Mason and Nuno Espirito Santo since Arteta was appointed but the arrival of Antonio Conte in north London is likely to cut the crowing, eventually if not instantly.
The rollercoaster may well dip again before the end of the season therefore, especially as this is a relatively youthful Arsenal ensemble, but a top four finish is certainly no longer the impossibility it seemed in August and European football next season, of one flavour or another, now likely.
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