Arsenal: Mikel Arteta Still Had Much To Offer

Mikel Arteta has officially joined Manchester City as apart of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff. It is a move that is a shame for Arsenal as he still had much to offer the club.

Intelligent players are a rich commodity. While on the pitch, sometimes their lack of athletic ability is truly frustrating to watch, off of it, their leadership qualities, their insightful and perceptive analysis can be crucial to the improvement of the team.

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One such player is Mikel Arteta. While I was one of his biggest detractors throughout his time with Arsenal, particularly scrutinizing his defensive woes as he continually struggled to shield an already vulnerable back four, his intelligence, his understanding and reading of the game cannot be understated.

Arteta boasts extensive experience, especially in the Premier League, but also in the Champions League. For an Arsenal side that has plenty of young players who are still expected to improve, that experience could be vital to tap in to.

Unfortunately, Arsenal will not be able to use such experience for their own benefit as Arteta has agreed to join Manchester City apart of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff. Arsenal were reportedly interested in keeping on their former captain in a coaching role, though it looks as if the lure with learning from a coach as successful and renowned as Guardiola was too much to resist, with Arteta stating:

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"“I’ve enjoyed an amazing five years at Arsenal and it’s been an honor and a privilege to captain such a great club. I am now looking forward to the challenge ahead at Manchester City. The opportunity to join Pep Guardiola and his team was an amazing opportunity for me.”"

While it is truly wonderful to no longer see Arteta on the pitch in an Arsenal shirt, as a coach, he certainly had value. He understood the way in which Wenger worked, the philosophies that he tried to instill in the club and was integral in the recent success without regular playing time.

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As club captain, Arteta was seen as a leader within the dressing room and was often the mediator between the coaches and the players. Unfortunately, we will now seem him in City’s dugout imparting his knowledge as apart of their coaching staff rather than at the Emirates, and that is a great shame.