Arsenal are set to name Mikel Arteta as their new head coach, according to Fabrizio Romano. After weeks of speculation over both his and the club’s futures, the two have reunited in a match which promises to be exciting if nothing else.
Following Unai Emery’s turbulent tenure at the club, executives have elected to take a new approach with his successor and give a big opportunity to a relatively small name. That doesn’t mean the task is anything but monumental.
Arsenal Appoint Mikel Arteta Head Coach
Mikel Arteta is set to become new Arsenal manager.
Today Man City has accepted – Pep Guardiola wanted him to stay but it’s a great opportunity for Arteta. Here we go! ? @DiMarzio #AFC #ManCity #Arsenal https://t.co/rxG4Kgbydm
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 18, 2019
Misfiring Gunners
Unai Emery’s departure was preceded by a run of eight matches without a win across competitions. Freddie Ljungberg‘s brief tenure as interim boss then yielded just one win in the first five matches.
That left them in a huge hole which seems insurmountable. After their 0-3 loss at home to Manchester City, Arsenal were seven points off of fourth-place Chelsea for the final Champions League place.
The main issue for Mikel Arteta to sort is the defence. Arsenal have hardly kept a clean sheet this season, regardless of competition. That reckless defending has left them with the Europa League looking the likeliest route back to the Champions League before Christmas.
In order to return to Europe’s elite competition, the Gunners will have to become far more consistent and stop conceding easy goals to the opposition. That is no small deed.
Mikel Arteta will have to do so after just over three years as Pep Guardiola‘s assistant at City. While the former Everton man has gained praise from all corners of the footballing world, stepping into a job as large as this must be daunting.
Arsenal are in uncharted waters having gone adrift of the top four in recent seasons. Meanwhile, their new head coach has not yet managed in any capacity, only assisted.
One thing seems certain in this new union; there is no telling just how Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal tenure will go.
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