Why did Arteta become a coach? He was inspired by Wenger

Mikel Arteta was at Arsenal under Arséne Wenger for 5 long years, during which he learned a lot from the legendary French coach. And he was a great inspiration to become a coach.

There is no doubt that the Spanish coach had excellent mentors. Moreover, after finishing his playing career, he joined Pep Guardiola’s team, to whom he was an assistant for two and a half years before heading to Arsenal in December 2019.

After less than two years, Arteta already has 100 games of coaching under his belt on the Arsenal bench and importantly, he’s finally starting to thrive with the team!

After a tragic start to the season, when the Gunners were at the bottom of the table, there has been a significant improvement and currently the London team is already in 5th place, only three points behind second place Manchester City and six points behind the leader Chelsea.

He was asked by a Sky Sports News presenter whether Wenger was the reason Arteta became coach. I was still very young and I had a lot of ideas about what I was going to do. But Wenger was incredibly inspiring and changed the way I started to see the game on the pitch.”

“If it wasn’t for him, I certainly wouldn’t be in the position I am now and enjoying the career I have now,” the Spanish coach thanked his great mentor from afar.

Wenger has moved into a managerial position since the end of his coaching career, from which he is trying to make his beloved game better and prepare it for a modern audience.

Arteta hopefully has a long coaching career ahead of him. Moreover, Gunners fans would surely want it to be at least as successful as Wenger’s and of course in the red and white jersey.

The thirty-nine year old San Sebastian native really has a lot of time ahead of him, but if he keeps improving, he will surely become one of the best coaches that many of his successors will look up to. Much like Arteta looks up to his mentor.

Now all the Gunners have a few days to breathe. But when they return to the league turf, they will face a big test in the form of Liverpool. After that, Arsenal will face Newcastle, Manchester United and Everton.

Source: Sky Sports, Transfermarkt