Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, began his career facing comparisons to Pep Guardiola, but lately has been compared to José Mourinho as well. The connection to Guardiola was predictable, stemming from their long-standing friendship dating back to 1997. Arteta first encountered his mentor at the Barcelona academy and later spent three years coaching under him at Manchester City. Their shared vision of the game is reflected in the traits Arteta aims to instill in his Arsenal squad.
The recent comparison to Mourinho arises from Arsenal’s transformation into a strong, defensively solid team. This shift in approach this season brings to mind a third manager, Gareth Southgate.
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In the 2025-26 season, Arteta finds himself in a similar scenario to Southgate during Euro 2024. Both managers took over teams in challenging circumstances, revitalized their cultures, and came agonizingly close to winning the significant trophies that their supporters desire. The ultimate test remains: Can a team you have diligently rebuilt seize the moment and clinch silverware?
Southgate faced heartbreak last summer, resigning in July after England lost 2-1 to Spain in the final. Despite achieving back-to-back European Championship finals, England’s journey was marked by tension and unmet expectations, particularly as they boasted a dynamic squad. Critics accused Southgate of “playing with the handbrake on,” a similar sentiment voiced towards Arteta following Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to Liverpool in August, and a 1-1 draw with Manchester City last month.
How Arteta navigates the remainder of the campaign will significantly influence Arsenal’s quest for their first Premier League title since 2004, potentially ending a 22-year wait. Southgate’s journey offers a cautionary tale, revealing more parallels with Arteta than one might initially think.
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Inheriting a challenging situation
While many managers speak of cultural change, few can truly achieve it. Southgate took over an England side that had just endured a historic defeat to Iceland at Euro 2016, marking Roy Hodgson’s last game. Additionally, his successor, Sam Allardyce, lasted only 67 days before a newspaper scandal ended his tenure.
The England setup was in disarray, with players feeling overwhelmed by the pressure of the jersey and the weight of history. Enter Southgate, a young manager stepping into the breach with only 57 caps as a former England player to draw upon.
Arteta took the helm at Arsenal in December 2019, inheriting a team still reeling from the departure of Arsène Wenger. Wenger had floundered in the twilight of his tenure, and Unai Emery’s brief reign lasted only 18 months before he was dismissed.
The dressing room was divided, with fans frustrated, primarily at the American ownership of Kroenke Sports Enterprises. Although Arteta was new to this level of management, he brought an inherent understanding of Arsenal’s core values, having played there from 2011 to 2016.
Both managers employed innovation in their approaches. Southgate famously took the England squad on a training retreat with the Royal Marines, while Arteta consulted RAF fighter pilots to enhance player communication.
Before aiming for major silverware, both needed to overhaul their respective teams. Arteta’s 2020 FA Cup win provided him the authority to relegate the ‘Arsenal way’ as he aimed to create something new in the same manner that Southgate’s 2018 World Cup semifinal run validated his methodologies.
Bridging the gap between fans and the team
At Euro 2016, England fielded their youngest squad in 58 years, averaging 25 years and 10 months. The average age rose slightly to 26 for Southgate’s first tournament. In fact, England took the most inexperienced squad into the 2018 World Cup.
Southgate worked to dismantle barriers between the team and fans, urging players to embrace external scrutiny rather than shy away from it. A transparent media approach allowed new, relatable personalities to emerge, and Southgate adeptly embraced the statesmanship expected of an England manager.
Arteta’s development as a public speaker has been gradual, yet he has similarly prioritized youth, propelling the growth of talents like Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, as well as emerging prospects such as Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and currently Max Dowman.
Both managers drew inspiration from other sports. Southgate integrated insights from the England rugby union squad during their 2017 Six Nations preparations, frequently consulting with former England manager Eddie Jones and collaborating with England rugby league coach Shaun Wane. Arteta has embraced ideas from teams like the All Blacks and LA Rams, particularly from coach Sean McVay, with whom he shares alignment under the KSE ownership.
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The significance of set pieces
Who remembers the “Love Train”? England’s unexpected 2018 World Cup semifinal run was largely due to exceptional set-piece execution and a keen understanding of how the VAR system could shift the dynamics of play.
The strategy involved players aligning at corners and darting off in various directions to challenge for the ball. This meticulous planning led England to score nine of their 12 goals from set pieces, the highest figure for any team since 1966. In fact, prior to this, England hadn’t scored from a set piece in three consecutive tournaments dating back to 2010.
As confidence grew, Southgate sought to diversify away from a reliance on set pieces in later tournaments, aiming to transition from pragmatic functionalism to a more dynamic playstyle. Unfortunately, their proficiency in set-piece scoring faded, without successfully replacing it with the creativity that fans desired. The team reached the Euro 2020 final, only to lose in a penalty shootout, and faced another narrow defeat to Spain in the semifinals four years later, alongside a contentious quarterfinal loss to France at the 2022 World Cup.
Arsenal, under Arteta, saw improvements in their set-piece execution later in his tenure. After achieving 91 goals during the record-breaking 2023-24 season, critics now argue they have become overly reliant on dead-ball opportunities. They lead the league decisively in set pieces, netting 36 goals from corners since the 2023-24 season started — 15 more than the nearest competitor.
Remarkably, among managers with over 300 Premier League goals, only Tony Pulis (21.9%) and Sean Dyche (18.6%) have a higher percentage of goals from set pieces than Arteta, who stands at 16.7%.
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Understanding history while embracing risk
This is the pivotal moment for Arteta. Arsenal’s notable edge with set pieces has become integral to their identity. Memes comparing Arteta to former Stoke City manager Tony Pulis have proliferated online, highlighting instances where Arsenal struggles to create open play chances. Arteta has been criticized for “playing with the handbrake on,” a term previously coined by Wenger regarding similar periods of inhibition within his teams.
In an ESPN interview prior to Euro 2024, Southgate addressed similar critiques, stating: “I believe many fans desire a more fanciful style of football. However, very few teams play that way … for any coach, the challenge is finding the ideal balance between attacking players on the pitch.”
This balance is precisely what Arteta must navigate. Two factors may heavily impact his decision-making. First, history. Like Southgate, Arteta is deeply acquainted with his role’s heritage. His connection to Arsenal’s values facilitated the cultural reset and the breakdown of historical barriers, creating essential stepping stones to rebuild belief — such as winning at Old Trafford, defeating Manchester City, and restoring dominance in the north London derby.
Southgate, similarly, recognized England’s varied past, using his own experience as a reference — notably missing the decisive penalty in Euro ’96 against Germany. Yet, as events unfolded, Southgate appeared hesitant to completely disconnect from this history when it warranted a different approach.
This historical approach may have mitigated heightened expectations, grounded players, and fostered realism. However, as the squad evolved to include a skilled array of fearless attacking players, a manager willing to embrace risks and adopt a more expansive style became necessary for capitalizing on their potential.
This brings us to the second point concerning Arteta’s current squad. After investing an additional £260 million this summer, Arsenal possesses one of the strongest squads in years, some say the top squad in England. So, without compromising too much on caution, why not reassess the team’s strategy to exhibit greater ambition and seize the current opportunities?
Arteta remains respectful of the threats posed by environments like Anfield and the formidable capabilities of City to exploit any weaknesses. However, the criticism surrounding conservative tendencies should not overshadow the array of talent at his disposal. The squad has evolved, and they could thrive under a more liberated approach.
His midfield selections, such as pairing Martín Zubimendi, Declan Rice, and Mikel Merino, tend to sidestep the more dynamic alternatives. This is evident with the inclusion of Eberechi Eze, whose presence signifies a more assertive game plan. While Arteta’s intent to control midfield is valid, it remains to be seen how he evolves to incorporate greater flair.
There are clear parallels with Southgate, who faced criticism for pairing Kalvin Phillips and Rice to maintain possession, fearing they lacked ball control in major tournaments. But come Euro 2024, Southgate had an array of creative talent at his disposal: Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, alongside Saka, Eze, Kobbie Mainoo, and Jarrod Bowen being mere examples. Southgate struggled to find a combination that maximized that creativity.
However, Arteta has shown improvement in this area. Arsenal’s play has taken on a more structured form. Notably, Arteta displayed a willingness to adjust his tactics against formidable opponents like Liverpool and City, as highlighted by his bold decision-making in the recent victory against Newcastle, where Gary Neville remarked on the shift in Arteta’s approach.
“Arteta will play it down, stating nothing has changed, but his team selection from the outset was more aggressive,” Neville commented on Sky Sports. “His substitutions demonstrated a desire to utilize every resource available. If you leave the pitch, make sure you’ve exhausted all your options and given it everything.”
While Neville’s experience as a manager at Valencia allows him a nuanced understanding, it is Southgate’s journey that Arteta should take lessons from at this juncture.