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Mikel Arteta’s appointment as Arsenal’s head coach on December 20, 2019, marked the beginning of a transformative period for the club. At the time, Arsenal were languishing in 10th place in the Premier League under interim manager Freddie Ljungberg, following Unai Emery’s sacking. Arteta, a former Arsenal captain with no managerial experience, faced immense pressure to revive a club that had drifted from its glory days under Arsène Wenger. Over the past five years, Arteta has navigated challenges, reshaped the squad, and restored Arsenal’s competitiveness. This article chronicles his journey, highlighting key milestones, setbacks, and achievements that define his tenure as of April 22, 2025.
The Early Days: A Bold Appointment
Arteta’s arrival was a gamble. At 37, he was one of the Premier League’s youngest managers, transitioning from his role as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City. His 150 appearances for Arsenal between 2011 and 2016 gave him a deep connection to the club, but his lack of managerial experience raised doubts. Arteta later admitted to feeling “terrified” on his first day, aware of the task ahead: reviving a club with a fractured squad and a mid-table position.
His first match, a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth on December 26, 2019, showcased his tactical vision emphasizing possession, high pressing, and defensive structure. However, results were inconsistent in the 2019/20 season, with Arsenal finishing eighth in the Premier League, their lowest position since 1994–95, with 56 points. Despite league struggles, Arteta’s impact was immediate in cup competitions. Arsenal won the 2020 FA Cup, defeating Manchester City 2-0 in the semifinal and Chelsea 2-1 in the final on August 1, 2020, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring twice. This triumph made Arteta the first Arsenal manager since George Graham in 1986–87 to win a major trophy in his debut season. A 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Liverpool in the Community Shield on August 29, 2020, further boosted morale.
In September 2020, Arteta’s title was upgraded from head coach to manager, reflecting the club’s confidence in his broader vision. The FA Cup success masked deeper issues, but it gave Arteta a platform to implement his philosophy.
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2020–21: Testing Times
The 2020/21 season was Arteta’s most challenging. Arsenal’s form declined hugely, and by December 2020, they were lingering at 15th position in the Premier League after a run of seven games without a win, including a 2-1 loss to Everton on December 19. A 5-0 defeat to Manchester City on August 28, 2021, during the 2021/22 season, compounded earlier woes, marking Arsenal’s worst league start in 67 years with three consecutive losses and no goals scored. Fan frustration grew, with some calling for Arteta’s dismissal. However, the Arsenal board, led by Josh Kroenke, backed him, emphasizing a long-term rebuild.
Arteta’s squad overhaul began in earnest. He prioritized culture and commitment, making tough decisions to phase out high-profile players. Mesut Özil, the club’s highest earner, was excluded from the squad and left for Fenerbahçe in January 2021. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, despite his 2020 heroics, was stripped of the captaincy in December 2021 for disciplinary breaches and joined Barcelona in February 2022. These moves, though divisive, reinforced Arteta’s authority and set a new standard of professionalism.
Arteta also invested in youth. In the summer of 2021, Arsenal spent over £140 million on players under 23, including Martin Ødegaard (£34 million from Real Madrid), Ben White (£50 million from Brighton), and Aaron Ramsdale (£24 million from Sheffield United). The 2020/21 season ended with another eighth-place finish (61 points) and no European football for the first time since 1994–95, but Arteta’s vision was taking shape.
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2021–22: A New Dawn
The 2021/22 season saw Arsenal’s progress become tangible. Playing dynamic, cohesive football, they finished fifth with 69 points, narrowly missing Champions League qualification after losing 2-0 to Newcastle and 5-1 to Tottenham in the final weeks. The Amazon All or Nothing: Arsenal documentary captured Arteta’s intense leadership, his focus on “non-negotiables” like discipline, and his emotional connection with players. Bukayo Saka, an academy graduate, emerged as a star, scoring 11 league goals under Arteta’s guidance.
In the summer of 2022, Arteta signed Gabriel Jesus (£45 million) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (£30 million) from Manchester City, adding Premier League experience and tactical versatility. These additions aligned with Arteta’s 4-3-3 system, which utilized inverted full-backs and emphasized pressing.
2022–23: Title Contenders
The 2022/23 season was a breakthrough. Arsenal led the Premier League for 248 days, the longest any team has topped the table without winning the title. They amassed 84 points, their highest since the 2003/04 “Invincibles” season, finishing second to Manchester City. Ødegaard (15 goals), Saka (14 goals), and Gabriel Martinelli (15 goals) formed a formidable attack, while set-piece coach Nicolas Jover’s strategies led to Arsenal scoring a league-high 16 set-piece goals (excluding penalties).
Arteta’s tactical nous was evident in Arsenal’s high-pressing, possession-based style. Granit Xhaka, once a polarizing figure, thrived as a box-to-box midfielder, earning fan admiration before joining Bayer Leverkusen in 2023. Despite a late-season collapse—winning only three of their final nine games—Arteta’s young squad secured Champions League football after a seven-year absence. He won Premier League Manager of the Month awards in August, November/December, and March, a record for an Arsenal manager in a single season.
2023–24: Raising the Bar
In 2023/24, Arsenal pushed Manchester City to the wire, finishing second with a club-record 89 points and 28 Premier League wins. They fell two points short of the title, losing only five league games. Key signings like Declan Rice (£105 million from West Ham), Kai Havertz (£65 million from Chelsea), and Jurriën Timber (£38 million from Ajax) bolstered the squad. Arsenal’s defence was the league’s best, conceding 29 goals, while they scored 91 goals, second only to Manchester City but these stats couldn’t help them win the league and, in their favour, they gave a good competition to the strong city team who have been winning the league from the past three seasons. This season Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal finished at 89 points in the league which is their second most in the premier league history.
In the Champions League, Arsenal reached the quarter-finals, their best run since 2009–10, before losing 3-2 on aggregate to Bayern Munich. Arteta’s growing stature was recognized with a new contract until 2027, signed in September 2024, quashing rumours of a move to Manchester City.
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2024–25: A Season of Ambition
As of April 22, 2025, Arsenal’s exact position in the 2024/25 Premier League is speculative, but they are assumed to be title contenders based on their upward trajectory but with 13 points clear and only 5 matches left to play in the season, Liverpool are likely taken the league out of the reach from Arteta’s Men. In the Champions League, a 5-1 thumping quarter-final win across both legs against the 15 times winners Real Madrid in April 2025 would highlight their European progress and how drastically Arteta has changed the culture of this great team. He described Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the second leg as “one of the best nights in my football career.” He highlighted the significance of beating a team with Real Madrid’s storied history, calling it an inspiration and emphasizing his pride in the team’s performance despite challenges like injuries. Arteta praised the squad’s character, maturity, and ability to handle the intense atmosphere, noting it was a historic moment for Arsenal, reaching their first Champions League semi-final since 2009 despite the Injuries to players like Gabriel Magalhães, Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Jesus have reportedly tested squad depth, with Arteta advocating for larger Premier League squad limits in recent interviews.
Arteta’s win percentage, as of his 250th game in March 2025, stands at approximately 58%. This surpasses Wenger’s 57% and Graham’s 54% at the same milestone. Arsenal’s point totals have improved consistently: 61 in 2020/21, 69 in 2021/22, 84 in 2022/23, and 89 in 2023/24.
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Challenges and Legacy
Arteta has faced criticism for his early struggles and failure to win the Premier League despite two near-misses. Squad depth and injury management remain concerns, as seen in 2024/25. However, his achievements are remarkable: an FA Cup, a Community Shield, and a revitalized Arsenal identity. He has reconnected the club with its fans, turning the Emirates into a fortress (Arsenal lost only once at home in 2023/24). His faith in youth such as Saka, Ødegaard, and Emile Smith Rowe—has paid dividends, while his tactical evolution rivals Europe’s best managers.
At 43, Arteta is still developing. His reported “five-phase plan” appears to be nearing its final stage: winning major trophies. Whether he secures a Premier League or Champions League title, Arteta has already transformed Arsenal from mid-table mediocrity to title contenders. As he told The Guardian in September 2024, “I want to do much more for this club.” For Arsenal fans, that ambition promises a bright future.
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Written by : Rishav Das
Published by : Satvika Bhargava
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