Comparing Ruben Amorim’s start at Manchester United to Mikel Arteta’s early years at Arsenal has become a favourite talking point among fans and pundits, but the truth is, it’s not exactly a fair comparison. Softfootball understands both managers came in with reputations for tactical structure and long-term vision, but the situations they walked into were worlds apart.
When Arteta took charge of Arsenal back in December 2019, the Gunners had just missed the top four by a single point. He inherited a squad already packed with solid Premier League talent, including Aubameyang, Lacazette, and Xhaka, and a club that was ready to give him time.
Over the years, Arsenal poured in more than £700 million and built a whole structure around him. Fast-forward, and 300 games later, Mikel Arteta is now reaping those rewards also. Fans now expect nothing less than excellence from their stars, and it was obvious in the angry outpouring by fans after struggling to a 1-1 draw with Manchester City.
Arsenal celebrated the manager’s milestone in a post via the team’s official X handle .
They Posted
Amorim’s arrival at Old Trafford in October 2024 couldn’t have been more different. United were in 14th place, still reeling from their worst-ever Premier League finish the season before. The Portuguese coach walked into a side bruised by inconsistency, injuries, and a fanbase that’s been through too many rebuilds to count.
After 25 matches, his record reads 11 wins, 5 draws, and 9 defeats, a 44% win rate that’s naturally drawn scrutiny. Arteta, for comparison, had a slightly brighter start at 56%. But raw numbers don’t tell the full story. Amorim has had to juggle a patchwork squad and rely on academy players and still managed to steady things at home with three straight wins, including a composed 2–0 victory over Sunderland earlier this month.
Benjamin Šeško looks sharper, Mason Mount seems to be finding rhythm again, and debutant keeper Senne Lammens even grabbed a clean sheet. Amorim’s post-match words said it all: “It’s progress. Small steps, but real ones.”
Arteta’s Arsenal didn’t transform overnight. It took patience, painful defeats, and trust in the process. United fans might need to do the same because if Amorim gets the same kind of backing, his project could eventually tell a similar success story.
