JUST IN: MIKEL ARTETA REVEALS HEARTFELT ADVICE RECEIVED FROM LEGEND ARSENE WENGER
Mikel Arteta reveals his biggest managerial mistake at Arsenal and how balancing tactics with emotion put the Gunners 6 points clear.
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When Mikel Arteta first took over at Arsenal, he admits he got a little lost in the tactics. He focused so much on game plans and strategies that he didn’t really connect with his players the way he should have.
Back in 2019, Arteta left his job as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City to step into his first real management role with the Gunners. Right off the bat, he brought home the FA Cup, but the team still finished eighth in the Premier League two years running.
From there, he basically rebuilt the whole squad. Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and a few others moved on. Fast forward, and Arsenal’s now been fighting for the league title four seasons in a row. They’re sitting six points clear at the top right now.
It’s been quite the ride, not just for the club but for Arteta himself. When someone asked him about his biggest mistake as a manager, he didn’t hesitate.
“Where you put the focus sometimes,” he told TNT Sports. “Especially at the beginning, the focus was probably too much on the tactical aspect. That means you may be overloading them with information.
“And then, you realise how important the emotional part is. When a player isn’t doing what you ask, why is that? Is he just not capable, or are you asking for something he’s not comfortable with? Maybe he’s got fears or doubts or just doesn’t understand what you want from him.
“Helping the player with that—that’s the real key. When you really connect and figure out how each guy responds, that’s when things click.”
Arteta also talked about Arsène Wenger’s influence on him. He played five years under Wenger at Arsenal and says the biggest thing he took away was how Wenger handled people.
“He always wanted players to express themselves,” Arteta said. “He was firm about what he wanted, but he gave you freedom on the pitch to make your own decisions.
“That balance—being clear but still letting you play—he did that so well. And he never lost his cool. He was always calm and steady about it.”
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
