Six years after taking charge, Mikel Arteta has transformed Arsenal from a rudderless ship into Premier League title contenders. When he took over on December 20, 2019, the club was stuck in mid-table under Unai Emery, with toxic infighting among fans, boardroom, and dressing room. Now, as Arteta returns to Everton this weekend, his side sits top of the table, having recorded three second-place finishes and 89 points in 2023/24 – just one shy of the Invincibles’ tally.
Arteta’s revolution has been built on reconnecting with fans and instilling discipline. He championed removing the pull-out tunnel at the Emirates to create a more intimidating atmosphere and embraced the ‘North London Forever’ anthem. Off the pitch, his ruthless exit for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set new standards on punctuality and professionalism. On the touchline, Arteta has become calmer: after six red cards last season, Arsenal have just 20 bookings and no reds this campaign.
However, challenges remain. Injury management has been questioned – notably playing Ben White four times in 11 days after his return from injury. Arteta acknowledges the club was at a “difficult stage of history” when he arrived, and while his record includes an FA Cup in his first season, full crowds might have seen him sacked after a home defeat to Burnley in December 2020. The club’s patience has paid off, as Arsenal now push to overcome Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
