Asked what makes Mikel Arteta a great manager, former Arsenal striker Alan Smith replied,” He’s got that authority; he’s got that power. I think players in the dressing room need to feel that the manager is in a stronger position than they are.
“If they feel his weak and he might be getting the sack with a couple of dodgy results, then they’ll take advantage of that.
The 44-year-old manager has signed a new four-year contract that will keep him at Arsenal until 2030; his contract was set to expire at the end of this season.
Since joining the Gunners in December 2019, Arteta’s journey has been anything but easy. He arrived with the difficult task of rebuilding an Arsenal side that had lost its way, but slowly, he began to restore the team’s confidence, identity and belief.
His first major success was in 2020 when he guided Arsenal to FA Cup glory, but bringing the Premier League title back to North London proved to be a much bigger challenge.
Arsenal came painfully close, finishing second in 2022/23, second again in 2023/24, and once more in 2024/25. Three consecutive seasons of coming within touching distance of the title, only to fall short. The repeated disappointment led to Arsenal being mocked as the “bridesmaids” and labelled “second best” because they could never quite take that final step.
But Arteta and his players refused to let the criticism define them. They kept working, kept improving and kept believing that their moment would come. Finally, last season they did it. After 22 long years of waiting, Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions, and Arteta finally lifted the trophy.
Alan Smith was also asked if Mikel has a chance of going beyond what Arsene Wenger achieved during his 22 years in charge. Wenger remains one of Arsenal’s most successful managers, winning 17 trophies during his reign, including three league titles and a record seven FA Cups.
“There is a chance for him to really lay down a very strong marker indeed to rivals. Of course if he were to win the Champions League there is an argument to say he’s top of the pile.
“ A penalty kick away from doing that against PSG. I think people say what would he rather win the Premier league or the Champions League . I think first and foremost you got to try and win your domestic title because you don’t want to be regarded as a one-off side.
