Arteta claims he 'would not be sitting here' without Wenger
Mikel Arteta has credited Arsene Wenger with making his entire Arsenal managerial career possible, describing the Frenchman's influence on his life and career as 'huge' in a wide ranging reflection on the man who first brought him to the club as a player.
Arteta, who has led Arsenal since taking over at the end of 2019, returned to the club he once represented as a midfielder, having left to end his playing career at Everton before moving into coaching as Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City. Under his guidance, Arsenal won their first league title in 22 years, and the club remains among the most ambitious in European football.
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Arteta on Wenger's role
Speaking via TNT Sports, Arteta did not hold back on what Wenger meant to his journey. He said:
“Well, huge. I would not be sitting here if it was not for Arsene. First of all, the opportunities that he gave me to be a part of this incredible football club.”
He continued, detailing exactly what he took from working under Wenger as a player:
“Everything that I learnt from him about values and about how somebody at that level has to behave, has to treat people and has to operate. The level of honesty and loyalty that he always showed towards everybody, and then his philosophy about the game and how it has to be played: the roles of the players and how you want to feel when you enter that field.”
A philosophy carried forward
Arteta's former teammates have long suggested that his path to management was evident even during his playing days, with many predicting he would go on to become a top level coach. His comments now offer a clearer picture of exactly where that foundation came from.
The values Arteta describes, honesty, loyalty and a clear footballing philosophy, are consistent themes that have followed Wenger's reputation throughout his time in English football. Arteta's own approach at Arsenal, built around possession based football and a strong emphasis on squad culture, carries clear echoes of the principles he says he learned directly from Wenger.
Arsenal's modern identity under Arteta has been shaped by a blend of modern coaching methods and the groundwork laid during the Wenger era. The Spaniard's willingness to publicly credit his former manager underlines how closely intertwined the two eras of the club have become in his own mind.
As Arsenal continue to push for further honours domestically and in Europe, Arteta's comments serve as a reminder of the lineage connecting the current project to the club's past. The relationship between the two men remains a defining thread in the story of Arsenal's recent history, and one that continues to inform how the club is run today.
