DBasia.news – Arsenal had received numerous criticism and was in the spotlight after starting the 2021-2022 season with three consecutive defeats in the Premier League. Slowly but surely, Mikel Arteta has raised the team’s performance.
Thanks to the help of new ammunition such as Aaron Ramsdale, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Martin Odegaard, Arsenal’s performance improved. Arsenal’s latest 1-0 win over Watford at the Emirates Stadium, Sunday (07/11) came from Emile Smith Rowe’s single goal.
Arsenal, who have been at the bottom of the standings, gradually rose to the top. Now the team from North London are fifth in the standings with 20 points, through Manchester United who won 17 points in sixth.
Arsenal are now in the best momentum of the November international break with a 10-game unbeaten streak in all competitions.
“I (Arteta is happy) because I think we show a lot of commitment in every defensive action we take as well as the organization,” Arteta told Arsenal’s official website.
“Winning before the international break is always great, it keeps the momentum going, the atmosphere is good with the players that are here, it’s a good atmosphere.”
Mikel Arteta’s 100th game
Arteta (39 years old) has led Arsenal since December 2019 replacing Unai Emery. Under his leadership Arsenal’s performance is still often up and down, but the development of the team can be seen with the insight that former assistant coach Pep Guardiola has.
Arteta has won the FA Cup and Community Shield for Arsenal. Against Watford it was Arteta’s 100th game in charge of Arsenal and his record is second only to George Graham’s at Arsenal.
100 games, according to Opta, Arteta surpassed the record of former legendary Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger who coached the team for 22 years (1996-2018). Arteta won 54, drew 20 and lost 26 and scored 163 goals from those 100 games.
While Wenger’s record is: 51 wins, 31 draws, 18 defeats, and incised 157 goals. Arteta is Arsenal’s second manager with the most wins from 100 games, ahead of Wenger, Herbert Chapman (49 wins) and George Allison (49 wins).
“It’s about what I can see around me, the belief the players and staff have in what we are doing, the belief, the sense of belonging they have to be part of the team,” Arteta explained.
“The unity they have shown is also at a difficult time, not to try to appoint anyone but to take full responsibility and show real leadership and courage to turn the situation around.”
“They face the criticism and move forward, slowly trying to get people involved. We are lucky because we have supporters who, in difficult times, have shown that they love this club.”
“They (fans) realize how important it is for our players to play at this club playing with them. When that happens, you can see what the atmosphere is like,” explained Arteta.