Arteta gets ringing endorsement to succeed at “struggling” Arsenal by ex-Guardiola student
Former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has backed Mikel Arteta to do well in his first managerial role if he joins Arsenal.
Arteta, who is currently assistant to Pep Guardiola at Man City, is expected to leave the club shortly to become the new Arsenal manager.
The Spaniard spent five years at the Emirates as a player and was previously linked with the managerial role last year when the Gunners were looking to replace Arsene Wenger.
Will Arteta join Arsenal? Five things to know…
- Mikel Arteta was linked with replacing Arsene Wenger at Arsenal in 2018.
- Unai Emery was eventually picked, but was sacked in November 2019.
- Freddie Ljungberg was named as interim manager while Arsenal have searched for a permanent replacement.
- Arteta is now expected to be named as Arsenal’s new manager in the coming days.
- And Yaya Toure has tipped the Spaniard for success, even with a “difficult” task ahead of him.
Unai Emery was the man ultimately picked to take the succeed the Frenchman but his reign was short-lived, lasting a little over a year as he struggled to get Arsenal on the right track.
Emery was then replaced by Freddie Ljungberg on an interim basis while Arsenal have searched for a new permanent manager, but the Swede has also struggled to turn their form around. The Gunners have won just one of their past 12 games across all competitions under Emery and Ljungberg, leaving whoever takes over with a tough job.
Arteta is expected to be announced as Arsenal’s new manager in the coming days, and Toure, who played under Arteta’s current mentor Pep Guardiola at Barcelona, believes the Spaniard is in for a “complicated” time.
“It’s going to be quite difficult. Why? Because Arsenal are struggling and I think if the directors of Arsenal listen to him and go in his way, maybe it’s going to work,” he told Associated Press.
“All the time when you come in a new club which is struggling, you need the backing of your board to listen to you and do what you want.
“Obviously City have a lot more money than Arsenal and I think it’s going to be quite complicated.”
However, despite the tough times ahead for Arteta, Toure has backed the Spaniard to succeed as the manager of Arsenal.
“He’s very smart and he’s achieved a lot of experience in football games,” he added.
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“I think he’s going to be good, good, good for Arsenal because Arsenal need a manager with a new mind and a new setup.
“We’ve been identifying Arsenal with Arsene Wenger because Arsene Wenger was top drawer for them.
“I was so sad when I saw the fans arguing Arsene Wenger has to leave and… now what is happening? Arsenal need a new vision of football, and I think Arteta can do it.”
Arteta was on the bench for Man City in their Carabao Cup win over Oxford United on Wednesday evening and Guardiola was coy about his future, refusing to answer questions after the game.
