Arteta Recalls Initial ‘Terrified’ Feelings Upon Arsenal Appointment

Mikel Arteta has achieved 155 victories in his 256 matches as manager of Arsenal. He has stated that he was initially “terrified” when he first assumed the managerial position at the club. This Friday will mark five years since the 42-year-old Spaniard’s appointment at Emirates Stadium, which was his first role as a manager. Arteta, who had previously served as an assistant coach under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, assumed leadership after Unai Emery’s dismissal, with the Gunners then occupying 10th place in the Premier League. “I just wanted to make sure I didn’t disappoint anybody, that I was capable of doing it,” Arteta commented. He added, “I was probably terrified.” He further explained his feelings, stating, “You haven’t coached anybody at the highest level, it was the middle of season, without any preparation, without a coaching staff, you get asked to take this amazing and big job.” Arsenal went on to win the FA Cup later that season, prior to finishing eighth in the subsequent campaign. The team placed fifth in 2021-22 but has since transformed into a title contender, securing second place in the league for the last two seasons. Arteta mentioned that among his initial responsibilities as manager was enhancing the club’s “culture.” “What I did was basically ask, through somebody I employed, to give me their opinion of how they feel to work in this football club,” Arteta explained. His side is scheduled to travel to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday. He concluded, “It was clear that it had to be changed.” Arteta emphasized the significance, stating, “[It was pivotal] because that was the roots of the football club. If those roots were damaged at that level, there was nothing to build without that.” He further elaborated, “So in the first season, we had to put the energy and big decisions into making sure those roots were clean and were in the right context and in the right place to be able to create and build what we wanted to build.”