Of all the Arsenal managers to have existed in my lifetime, they’ve all shared one common trait which caused their downfall: an inability to challenge the club. This resulted in the club essentially owning the manager and calling all the shots in the transfer window, which should ALWAYS be the job of the manager.
This is why it’s refreshing to see Mikel Arteta at the helm. Not only is his footballing knowledge impeccable, but he also values his players over the opinions of the board. Of course, he does have a good relationship with the likes of Edu and the Kroenkes, but he’s made it clear that he should call the shots and those above him should trust his footballing plan. I mean, he’s certainly given them enough evidence that it’s working.
According to the latest report from Metro, Mikel Arteta has challenged the board further to believe in his plan and back him financially. Arteta has spoken a lot in recent weeks about how he plans to rebuild his squad to improve for next season, which is understandable given his side’s downfall towards the end of this season.
In the report from Metro, Arteta is quoted in saying that he seeks excellence from his group of players, which can only be made possible with continual upgrades in positions of need – this comes as a result of financial backing from the board of directors and investors.
Some signings which Arsenal would like to make are Declan Rice, James Maddison, Marc Guehi and Joao Cancelo. These signings will all set the Gunners back financially but will be made possible by player sales and smarter negotiations. Additionally, dabbling in the free market with players such as Ilkay Gundogan and Wilfried Zaha could be of benefit.
What do you make of Mikel Arteta’s demands?