What would you do if you were Mikel Arteta?
What would you do if you were Mikel Arteta? There is a debate among Gooners that Mikel Arteta should be sacked if he fails to get Arsenal over the line this season, or even if he does lift the Premier League. Yet how would the man himself feel if he finished runner-up for the fourth year in a row?
The Manager’s Perspective I do believe the Spaniard’s love for the Gunners is genuine. I view the 44-year-old as a decent person. I think, in his heart, he feels he is in charge of a talented young squad that is so close to doing something special.
The issue is that it is like the boy who cried wolf. How many seasons do you give the same person to prove he can win when the lights are shining brightly? If he starts to hear whispers in North London that his ability is being questioned, he will be very aware that his reputation remains strong elsewhere.
Pressure, Reputation and Loyalty He would not struggle to find a job, for example, back in Spain. When Pep Guardiola decides to leave the Etihad, you would assume City would listen to his opinion for his replacement. Why would he not mention his apprentice and friend?
Arteta’s mentor in Manchester is someone whose attention to detail borders on obsessive. It takes a great deal of mental energy to work in conditions where you are under pressure to win every few days. It is even more exhausting if, after seven years of effort, you only have an FA Cup to show for that work.