Mikel Arteta can match Arsene Wenger dynasty as Premier League rivals stumble at nighttime
Mikel Arteta couldn’t stop smiling as he addressed the media in the bowels of Cardiff’s national stadium.
And who could blame him? His Arsenal side had just ripped apart their fiercest rivals of recent times, to win the first silverware on offer this season. Martin Odegaard had produced the sort of performance which once saw him hailed the greatest midfield prospect on the planet.
New signing Christos Tzolis had fitted into his new team seamlessly, while Arsenal’s miserly defence had reduced the great Erling Haaland to just 13 touches, before being hauled off inside 63 painful minutes. Not a bad afternoon’s work for Arteta. But perhaps the greatest reason he resembled a Cheshire Cat who’d put the ‘Prince’ into the Principality Stadium, had nothing to do with what happened on the pitch.
Arsenal won the Community Shield over the weekend(Image: The FA via Getty Images)
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And more to do with the fact that the cream of defensive midfielders, in the shape of Rodri, was packing his bags and swapping Manchester for Barcelona. Could things get much better for Arteta? The answer is no. The Premier League season hasn’t even kicked off, but bookmakers have Arsenal down as red-hot favourites to defend their title.
And bookies are rarely wrong. It would be naïve to read too much into one glorified friendly game of curtain-raising football. But it would also be fair to say that on the evidence of what happened in the Welsh capital, new Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca must feel like hiding behind said curtains inside a darkened room.
While City fans were given a glimpse into a future without Pep Guardiola, Maresca was handed a taste of what life might look like without Rodri in it.
Arsenal were comfortable winners in their first meeting of the season with Man City(Image: Charlotte Wilson/Offside)
None of this will be lost on Arteta. City are not the only team in transition. Mohamed Salah-less Liverpool and Chelsea are the same under new respective managers Andola Iraola and Xabi Alonso, while Manchester United have failed to strengthen and have Champions League football added to their calendar this time round.
Arteta now finds himself at the centre of what could be the perfect storm. His closest rivals appear to be stumbling around in the dark, while Arsenal head into a new campaign with one of the greatest qualities added to their armoury. The knowledge of how to win big.
Had it not been for a misplaced penalty, then Arsenal might well be European champions now and not just English ones. But make no mistake, the team Arteta has created has been five seasons in the making and has the kind of talent, confidence and strength in depth which can enable it to go on and create a dynasty in north London.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Manchester City’s Rodri are no longer a threat to Arsenal
What a golden opportunity Arteta now has to establish himself as one of the great managers. He spoke of his team’s hunger and belief.
Of how last season’s success had given his stars that priceless appetite to achieve more. Excluding Charity/Community Shields, Arsene Wenger won 10 trophies as Arsenal boss, including three league titles.
Most supporters regard him the best their club has ever had. But there is nothing to stop Arteta from going on to emulate – or even better – what the Frenchman did. And chances like these don’t come around too often. So have to be taken.
It’s good to see Fulham have got their priorities right. Making a crucial appointment to the staff, that enhances the club’s reputation as one of the most charming, hospitable and civilised ones in English football.
Fulham have launched a new partnership that will make it the first in the top flight to have a Michelin Guide-recognised dining experience at its stadium. Some of the chefs involved have worked at The Ritz, Cameron House in Loch Lomond and for Gordon Ramsay, no less. Which is all well and good.
But for those poor supporters who don’t have deep enough pockets to feed off all the excitement, the news might be difficult to swallow. Fulham finished in the bottom half of the table last season. Mainly thanks to the brilliance of manager Marco Silva, who has now gone.
His replacement, Alvaro Arbeloa, lasted a few months at Real Madrid and has no experience of managing in the Premier League. He also has to deal with the loss of Harry Wilson and Raul Jiminez. It could well be a long and difficult campaign for London’s oldest professional football club. But at least the grub will be up to scratch, eh?
