Every Arsenal fan needs to give Mikel Arteta his credit because, with all due respect, he deserves it. Whenever Arsenal lose matches, many fans quickly call for Arteta to be sacked. Rival fans from clubs like Manchester United, Barcelona, and Real Madrid will always criticize, but it becomes surprising when Arsenal supporters also turn against the manager.
Softfootball believes Arteta should be appreciated because he has changed the entire mentality of the club. Anywhere Arsenal are today, Arteta played a huge role in getting them there.
In many ways, Arteta has given Arsenal more than Arsenal gave him.
Before the start of recent seasons, Arsenal were no longer seen as serious title contenders. But now, many already see them as automatic top-two favorites. Even when they fail to win the league, it is still difficult to imagine Arsenal finishing outside the top positions.
From around 2010 until Arteta arrived, Arsenal struggled badly against big teams and were often criticized for weak defending. Today, the situation is completely different.
This current Arsenal defense has become one of the strongest in football. Ironically, defensive dominance used to be the identity of Chelsea FC, but Arsenal are now showing those same qualities.
