Mikel Arteta's early tenure at Arsenal was far from smooth, but insiders credit the club's owners for staying the course. The manager's first game in charge came on Boxing Day 2019 at Bournemouth, after a discreet recruitment process that began with a late-night meeting at his home. Arsenal managing director Vinai Venkatesham was photographed leaving Arteta's house, causing embarrassment and displeasure from Manchester City, where Arteta was Pep Guardiola's assistant.
Arteta had impressed in an interview round in 2018 when Arsène Wenger left, but the club opted for Unai Emery's experience. After Emery's failed succession, Venkatesham pushed for Arteta, who outlined a five-year plan to rebuild the squad. The Kroenke family's full ownership, secured after buying out Alisher Usmanov's stake, provided the financial backing that previous managers lacked. 'Mikel had money Unai and even Arsène didn't really have,' said a former employee.
Despite FA Cup and Community Shield wins in his first eight months, the 2020-21 season was disastrous. Arsenal lost seven Premier League games without a win, including a 2-1 defeat at Everton in December 2020. Yet the board never discussed sacking him. 'There were never internal discussions about that,' said a source familiar with board meetings. The decision to pay off Mesut Özil's contract in January 2021 was seen as a totemic show of support.
Arteta's intensity, even in good times, was extreme. But the backing from the Kroenke family, particularly Josh Kroenke, was crucial. 'I had the impression he persuaded the board to pull the emergency cord on funding,' said one source. The manager's five-year plan required patience and money, both of which were granted. 'It was the perfect storm,' said a former senior employee. 'A really driven young manager, money, and a board that gave him time.'
