Arsène Wenger has offered his verdict on the jobs that Mikel Arteta and Per Mertesacker are doing at Arsenal.
It was the Frenchman who signed both the Spaniard and the German on deadline day in August 2011 for £10 million and £7.6 million respectively.
Since then, the duo have gone on to offer Arsenal more than just their services as players. Of course, Arteta now manages the Gunners, while Mertesacker is in charge of the academy.
Speaking to CBS Sports about his two ex-players, Wenger said: ‘They were focused and motivated and after that they have to make their career. It’s not done yet, you know, they’ve just started.
‘I think they have a certain ethical aspect in the way they approach their job. They are focused, they have a desire to improve internally and that’s good, a good basis. They are intelligent.’
It’s clear that the 71-year-old thinks very highly of the pair. Significantly, the former Gunners boss emphasises that ‘they’ve just started’ – something that some worried supporters out there must remember.
Admittedly, Arteta is struggling to get his side playing well right now on a consistent basis. However, it must be remembered that the ex-Manchester City coach is only in his first full season as a manager.
Mistakes will be made and time must be afforded to him. If anything, Arteta has earned that time for himself by winning the FA Cup last season, having picked up the pieces of Unai Emery’s reign.
Hopefully, Wenger’s kind words will give the Gunners boss some confidence to carry on with his work in the way that he sees fit.
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