Arteta Wins Over Two Major Pundits Who Questioned His Appointment News

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Arteta Wins Over Two Major Pundits Who Questioned His Appointment

By Daily Sports on January 1, 1970

People change their opinions in life. Views evolve and that’s part of life itself.

In football as well, that’s certainly the case.

When 37-year old Mikel Arteta was named coach of struggling English premier league side Arsenal, not many were convinced that he could perform well given his lack of managerial experience.

One particular critique of the Spaniard was Paul Merson, a former Arsenal player and major pundit who believed this lack of experience is a huge negative and that Arteta does not have the necessary know-how to turn the struggling club around.

The appointment, Mersin had said, reminded him of McGregor taking his first ever boxing match against one of the greatest boxers of all time, Mayweather.

“Mikel Arteta taking on the Arsenal job is like Conor McGregor trying to fight Floyd Mayweather,” wrote in the Daily Star.

With Arteta having been in charge for two matches now however, Merson has been impressed with the work the former Manchester City assistant coach is doing.

Merson praised Mikel Arteta following Arsenal’s defeat to Chelsea and says he has been ‘quite impressed’ with the Gunners under their new manager.

Arteta is yet to taste victory as a Gunners boss, with his Arsenal side drawing to Bournemouth on Boxing Day and losing to Chelsea in Sunday’s London derby at the Emirates.

“For the first half against Chelsea, it didn’t look like Arsene Wenger was in charge. And that’s the biggest compliment I can give,” Merson told Sky Sports.

“They worked their socks off, but were never going to keep that up for 90 minutes, because they haven’t done that in 10 years.

“That high pressure, closing down, Chelsea couldn’t get out or put two or three passes together. You looked at Arsenal in that first half and thought: “Well this is Arteta’s team”.

“He’d got them closing down. But obviously, they were going to fade. Chelsea took advantage of that, and fair play to them.

“As time goes on, however, and Arteta’s looks to place his stamp on the team, there are some bright sparks to take.

“The fitter they get, and the more they understand that closing-down game, I think they’ll be alright, and I was quite impressed. ‘Arteta has been around one of the best, and he has that way of talking.

“He’s not going to come in and start effing and blinding.’ After Sunday’s defeat, Arsenal slipped to 12th in the Premier League and will hope to make up points on the top-four when they host Manchester United on New Year’s Day,” Merson said.

Arsenal are currently 12 in the EPL and despite some good signs under Arteta, they are flirting dangerously with relegation, sitting just 6 points above the drop zone and have a difficult home game with Manchester United on New Year day.

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 31, 2019