Arsenal: Mikel Arteta outrage focused on all the wrong things

Arsenal fans are not happy at the prospect of Mikel Arteta being the next manager, but the reasoning is flimsy and based on all the wrong things.

The list of potential Arsenal managers to succeed Arsene Wenger is going to be doing laps around the psyche of every Gooner out there. There is no going to be one name that everyone agrees, nor, I would argue, will there be a name in the clear majority.

Mikel Arteta is a name on that list that is getting a ton of backlash. The Spaniard has been Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City for going on two years now, but has never managed at the top level, because he hasn’t had the opportunity to yet.

Which is part of the reason people are lashing out at this potential appointment, which, according to SkySports, is something Ivan Gazidis is strongly considering.

Another piece of why people don’t like the Arteta idea is because they didn’t like him as a player. Fair enough, he was actually my least favorite player when he was with the club. I hated that he was captain and I wanted anyone else to play but him.

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That said, who he was as a player does not reflect who he will be as a manager. Plenty of poor/average players have gone on to become very successful managers, and the fact that he captained a burgeoning Arsenal side plays strongly in his favor. He was at the base of a flimsy system that still hold true to the Arsene Wenger ways while not having the budget to stimulate prolonged success.

As far as him not having experience managing a team, that’s also a fair argument. But having learned as a captain under Wenger and now as an assistant under Pep, Arteta’s grasp of the game is outstanding. There is a reason why Pep trusted Arteta to become his right-hand man, and there is a reason why Wenger trusted him to lead a hodge-podge team. He has the leadership qualities you need in a manager.

The fact that he doesn’t have experience should be seen as an opportunity, not a hindrance. Patrick Vieira had zero head coaching experience before revolutionizing how New York City FC performed and now he’s one of the hottest candidates on the market.

Arsenal can get Arteta to do the same for them. Fresh ideas, someone who knows the players, knows the system, can grow in the role and stay for a prolonged period. I’m not sure what could be better. And don’t say someone that has won everything already.

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I was hesitant at first, and not on the Arteta train. But his experience is right where it should be. He’s going to be hungry to make an impact and Arsenal can be his canvas. Taking a risk at manager is okay. Arsene Wenger proved that. We shouldn’t be asking our prestigious club to do the same thing as every other club. That’s not how you make a difference.

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