Arsenal were looking at trends not results when offering Arteta new deal after three defeats
When Mikel Arteta was under greatest strain, Arsenal showed the greatest support. As the team toiled to a disappointing run of defeats, the club were putting the finishing touches to a new three-year contract for Arteta. There can be no doubt now about the club’s commitment to their young manager.
In some respects, this deal was inevitable. Arteta has constantly held strong support among the Arsenal hierarchy. Even when results have dipped, their faith in him has been unwavering. When Arsenal lost the first three games of the Premier League season, leaving the team goalless and bottom of the table, Arteta received public and private reassurance over his position.
When they lost three matches in a fortnight at the start of April, the club went further still. Although there had been discussions about a new contract for some time, this was the moment the hierarchy chose to present him with a formal offer. Arteta was taken aback and moved.
“That doesn’t happen in football,” said the 40-year-old manager. “The belief they have in myself, the coaching staff and what we’re doing… the people that we have now owning and leading this football club… I hadn’t seen it, and I just got emotional when I saw it because I thought these guys are serious and committed, so I’d better push forward.”
From then on, the agreement itself was a formality. Arsenal followed up with three consecutive victories over Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham — a nine-point haul that has secured their place in the top six and guaranteed European football next season.
For some, presenting a contract offer at the very point when the team are struggling for results may appear backwards. After all, Arteta has not been a faultless manager — like any young coach, he has made mistakes. His handling of big stars, such as Mesut Ozil and more recently Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, has attracted particular scrutiny. There are certainly those among the Arsenal fans who would have preferred to see how the final four games of the season transpire before committing to a new deal. Some see the club’s unshakeable faith in Arteta as unwarranted, and potentially dangerous.
The Arsenal hierarchy — including the Kroenke family, who own the club — see things otherwise. The club are now guaranteed to finish in the top six. After a season outside of continental competition, they will have Europa League football in 2022-23 at the very least. Moreover, there is a general sense of progress and positivity. Arsenal are improving with the youngest team in the league, and early indications on season ticket renewals are good.
The specific timing of Arsenal’s show of faith may be surprising — but the club were looking at trends, not at scorelines. It’s a victory for a word that has become synonymous with Arteta’s reign: process.
The club took the step of announcing Arteta’s new contract in conjunction with a new deal for their women’s head coach Jonas Eidevall. Just minutes after Arteta addressed the media at London Colney on Friday, Eidevall conducted a press conference of his own and was asked whether he accepts his Arsenal tenure will be defined by that most tangible of successes: trophies.
“I really don’t look at it that way,” said Eidevall. “It’s like going to the team to say, ‘Today you need to win’. Of course you need to win, everyone needs to win. But it’s how you do things that matters, and that you find a process that works. If you’re successful with that, you will in trophies. Then it’s about having belief in that process, and keeping on doing it even if things are hard.” With both their men’s and women’s teams, Arsenal have landed on a process — and a pair of managers — that they are prepared to trust.
The hierarchy’s decision to offer Arteta a new deal — and indeed to announce it before the season’s climax — is a demonstrable show of support. It is a declaration that the vagaries of results will not deter them from their commitment to the project. Arsenal are sending a message: not just to Arteta, but to their fans, and the wider football world.
There is a lot of hand-wringing over managerial contracts, whereas the reality is that this new deal doesn’t materially change much: Arteta will continue to be judged on his day-to-day management of the club. If things fall into disarray, the agreement will be terminated long before its 2025 expiry.
Communication, then, is a significant part of this. While Arsenal’s league performance suggests they have improved on the field this season, there have also been improvements off it. Since last summer, Arsenal have been able to communicate a clear vision, a clear project — often through actions rather than words. The signings of six players aged 23 or under and the decision to give the No 7 and No 10 shirts to Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe made clear this was a project focused on youth and development.
A new deal for Arteta tells its own story: it makes plain he is the man at the heart of the project. It tells supporters that Arsenal intend to continue on this trajectory. It’s also an important box to tick ahead of a summer of crucial negotiations. Arsenal have made contact with the representatives of Saka to negotiate a new contract — he can now enter those talks assured of Arteta’s future. Similarly, prospective signings will have the security of knowing who will be at the helm should they sign. Arsenal have also tied down a manager whose own star may well be on the rise.
Meanwhile, in the short term, Arsenal will hope this announcement provides the squad with a boost in the battle for fourth place. Champions League qualification would be some way for Arsenal and Arteta to celebrate the renewal of their vows.
https://theathletic.com/3297751/2022/05/06/arsenal-were-looking-at-trends-not-results-when-offering-arteta-new-deal-after-three-defeats/
Arsenal were looking at trends not results when offering Arteta new deal after three defeats
When Mikel Arteta was under greatest strain, Arsenal showed the greatest support. As the team toiled to a disappointing run of defeats, the club were putting the finishing touches to a new three-year contract for Arteta. There can be no doubt now about the club’s commitment to their young manager.
In some respects, this deal was inevitable. Arteta has constantly held strong support among the Arsenal hierarchy. Even when results have dipped, their faith in him has been unwavering. When Arsenal lost the first three games of the Premier League season, leaving the team goalless and bottom of the table, Arteta received public and private reassurance over his position.
When they lost three matches in a fortnight at the start of April, the club went further still. Although there had been discussions about a new contract for some time, this was the moment the hierarchy chose to present him with a formal offer. Arteta was taken aback and moved.
“That doesn’t happen in football,” said the 40-year-old manager. “The belief they have in myself, the coaching staff and what we’re doing… the people that we have now owning and leading this football club… I hadn’t seen it, and I just got emotional when I saw it because I thought these guys are serious and committed, so I’d better push forward.”
From then on, the agreement itself was a formality. Arsenal followed up with three consecutive victories over Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham — a nine-point haul that has secured their place in the top six and guaranteed European football next season.
For some, presenting a contract offer at the very point when the team are struggling for results may appear backwards. After all, Arteta has not been a faultless manager — like any young coach, he has made mistakes. His handling of big stars, such as Mesut Ozil and more recently Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, has attracted particular scrutiny. There are certainly those among the Arsenal fans who would have preferred to see how the final four games of the season transpire before committing to a new deal. Some see the club’s unshakeable faith in Arteta as unwarranted, and potentially dangerous.
The Arsenal hierarchy — including the Kroenke family, who own the club — see things otherwise. The club are now guaranteed to finish in the top six. After a season outside of continental competition, they will have Europa League football in 2022-23 at the very least. Moreover, there is a general sense of progress and positivity. Arsenal are improving with the youngest team in the league, and early indications on season ticket renewals are good.
The specific timing of Arsenal’s show of faith may be surprising — but the club were looking at trends, not at scorelines. It’s a victory for a word that has become synonymous with Arteta’s reign: process.
The club took the step of announcing Arteta’s new contract in conjunction with a new deal for their women’s head coach Jonas Eidevall. Just minutes after Arteta addressed the media at London Colney on Friday, Eidevall conducted a press conference of his own and was asked whether he accepts his Arsenal tenure will be defined by that most tangible of successes: trophies.
“I really don’t look at it that way,” said Eidevall. “It’s like going to the team to say, ‘Today you need to win’. Of course you need to win, everyone needs to win. But it’s how you do things that matters, and that you find a process that works. If you’re successful with that, you will in trophies. Then it’s about having belief in that process, and keeping on doing it even if things are hard.” With both their men’s and women’s teams, Arsenal have landed on a process — and a pair of managers — that they are prepared to trust.
The hierarchy’s decision to offer Arteta a new deal — and indeed to announce it before the season’s climax — is a demonstrable show of support. It is a declaration that the vagaries of results will not deter them from their commitment to the project. Arsenal are sending a message: not just to Arteta, but to their fans, and the wider football world.
There is a lot of hand-wringing over managerial contracts, whereas the reality is that this new deal doesn’t materially change much: Arteta will continue to be judged on his day-to-day management of the club. If things fall into disarray, the agreement will be terminated long before its 2025 expiry.
Communication, then, is a significant part of this. While Arsenal’s league performance suggests they have improved on the field this season, there have also been improvements off it. Since last summer, Arsenal have been able to communicate a clear vision, a clear project — often through actions rather than words. The signings of six players aged 23 or under and the decision to give the No 7 and No 10 shirts to Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe made clear this was a project focused on youth and development.
A new deal for Arteta tells its own story: it makes plain he is the man at the heart of the project. It tells supporters that Arsenal intend to continue on this trajectory. It’s also an important box to tick ahead of a summer of crucial negotiations. Arsenal have made contact with the representatives of Saka to negotiate a new contract — he can now enter those talks assured of Arteta’s future. Similarly, prospective signings will have the security of knowing who will be at the helm should they sign. Arsenal have also tied down a manager whose own star may well be on the rise.
Meanwhile, in the short term, Arsenal will hope this announcement provides the squad with a boost in the battle for fourth place. Champions League qualification would be some way for Arsenal and Arteta to celebrate the renewal of their vows.
https://theathletic.com/3297751/2022/05/06/arsenal-were-looking-at-trends-not-results-when-offering-arteta-new-deal-after-three-defeats/
