Mikel Arteta has revealed that he has “experienced things in a year that in a normal job you would experience in eight or 10 years”.
Saturday’s trip to Goodison Park comes one day before the first anniversary of Arteta’s appointment as Gunners boss.
After taking over from sacked Unai Emery, Arteta guided his side to an eighth-placed finish in the Premier League, and won silverware in his first season as a manager by leading Arsenal to a 14th FA Cup triumph.
However, the manager now finds himself under pressure with a dreadful run of results having left the North London side 15th in the top flight – just five points above the dreaded drop zone.
Arteta’s first year in charge has seen an overhaul of the management structure and recruitment department at the Emirates, while like all clubs the Gunners have been hit by the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
And the Spaniard says the changes behind the scenes had “shaken the club big time”.
“I have experienced things in a year that in a normal job you would experience in eight or 10 years, but it’s been great,” said Arteta, quoted by the Daily Mail.
“I want to believe I am much better as a manager.”
In one of those quirky coincidences football tends to throw up, Arteta was at Everton the day after his appointment as Arsenal boss last year.
He watched as the two teams he played for in the Premier League battled out a 0-0 draw – while also looking on from the stands was Carlo Ancelotti, who had just been appointed Everton’s manager.
“I saw an Arsenal team going through a very difficult spell in the league, a team who had doubts,” said Arteta. “They needed results, but that day they really put in an effort.
“I remember sitting in the stands thinking, ‘I can’t wait to work with the players and the club’.”
The league table would suggest Arsenal are in an eve worst position a year on – although Arteta insists his team have “evolved”.
With Arteta under increasing pressure, the 38-year-old will hope he can mastermind a first win in seven Premier League games when Arsenal face Everton, who are currently fifth in the table having won three of their last five.
