Burnley boss Vincent Kompany has ‘no doubt’ Mikel Arteta will enjoy sustained success at Arsenal. He is also ‘not surprised’ the Spaniard is shining after his time at Manchester City.
The Gunners currently lead the Citizens in the Premier League title race by three points on 51 to 48. Arsenal also have a game in hand on Manchester City having played 21 to 22 this season so far. But Pep Guardiola’s side will overtake Arteta’s with any win on Wednesday.
Arsenal host Manchester City in a top-of-the-table encounter at Emirates Stadium as Arteta faces his former mentor. Guardiola hired the 40-year-old to work in his coaching staff after retiring as the Gunners’ captain in 2016. He returned to north London in December 2019.
Manchester City won two Premier League titles and an FA Cup during Arteta’s time beside Guardiola in their dugout. The former Arsenal midfielder then guided the Gunners to an FA Cup title in 2020 after replacing Unai Emery at the helm, initially as the team’s head coach.
Arsenal promoted Arteta to the role of first-team manager following their FA Cup triumph. Now, he has the capital club chasing a first Premier League crown in 19 years. The Gunners last topped the English top-flight with the 2003/04 Invincibles term under Arsene Wenger.
Kompany gives former Manchester City coach Arteta his backing at Arsenal
Arteta’s time at the Arsenal helm was under serious threat in August 2021 after a shocking start to their season. The Telegraph reported that the Spaniard had five fixtures to save his job. Three successive defeats marked their worst start to any league campaign in 67 years.
Now, though, Arsenal are reaping the rewards of keeping their faith in Arteta ahead of the visit of Manchester City. Kompany, who was still playing at the Etihad Stadium during the Spaniard’s time in Guardiola’s crew, also feels Arteta’s Arsenal success will not stop here.
“You could see Mikel was in that transition moment from being a player to being a coach,” Kompany said, via the Evening Standard. “He was hungry, he was very active, full of energy and, obviously, he was in a good environment to develop and grow his own ideas.
“I’m not surprised he’s been doing well with Arsenal and, definitely, he’s going to continue doing well. There’s no doubt about that.
“He’s got the energy and especially the resilience to deal with setbacks and keep going, draw his own conclusions and improve. That’s why I think he’s doing so well with Arsenal.”
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