Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur had a shocking start to their Premier League campaigns last season. Both teams dropped down to the bottom half of the league table, and that cost Mauricio Pochettino and Unai Emery their jobs.
The two North London rivals took different approaches in their search for a new boss. Daniel Levy went down the path of experience and a proven winning record, as he appointed Jose Mourinho as his club’s new manager.
Arsenal, on the other hand, chose the opposite. The Gunners went with someone without any experience in Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard was their former skipper and him returning, as risky as it was, made a lot of sense to many associated with the club.
Both managers have been at the helm at North London for some time now. Who has fared better? Has the self-proclaimed ‘special one’ dominated the stats? Or has Pep’s protege been the better boss? Let’s see what the stats say.
Since Mourinho took charge, Spurs have played 43 games in all competitions. Tottenham have won just 22 matches, lost 12 and drawn nine, boasting a win rate of 51.1% (Transfermarkt).
At Arsenal, Arteta has managed 35 games in all competitions. He has won 22, lost seven and drawn six, which takes his win rate to 62.8%, considerably superior to his rival across North London (Transfermarkt).
However, people’s perception of Mourinho as a defensive coach while calling Arteta’s system an attacking one might not be entirely true. Stats show that Spurs average more goals per game than Arsenal under their respective managers.
Mourinho’s Spurs have scored 88 goals in 43 games. They average 2.04 goals per game, but their defence is a concern. Tottenham have conceded 62 times since their Portuguese boss’s appointment, averaging 1.44 goals every time they play (Transfermarkt).
Arsenal have scored 66 goals in 35 games under Arteta, which averages to 1.88 per game, inferior to Mourinho’s Tottenham. However, the Gunners’ defensive record is surprisingly better than their fierce North London rivals.
Arteta’s men have conceded 40 goals in 35 games; 0.3 goals per game fewer than Mourinho’s side (Transfermarkt). That really is interesting considering the Gunners are praised for their attack while Spurs are labelled as a defensive side.
Tottenham pipped their rivals in the Premier League last season as they finished two places above them. However, Arteta’s Arsenal have the FA Cup and the Community Shield in their cabinet, which might just give him the edge in the battle at North London.
Both managers have been backed by their respective boards this summer. Mourinho and Arteta will be under pressure to deliver this season and their marquee signings Gareth Bale and Thomas Partey should help them reach their targets.
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