Is Arteta the Most Improved EPL Manager?

It was not long ago that large swathes of the Arsenal fanbase were calling for Mikel Arteta to be fired, with his signing of the likes of Martin Ødegaard and Aaron Ramsdale being ridiculed. Those same fans have had to eat humble pie in recent weeks, as the Gunners have begun an impressive rise up the table, defying the predictions of experts and neutral observers alike. Now the more pertinent question is not: will Arteta be sacked, but rather, is he the most improved manager on the Premier League block? Here we deep dive into the stats that help form the opinions of some of the most revered footy tipsters in the game, to see if any other managerial newbies even come close. One certainty is that it’s hard to match this one-time Guardiola understudy, who has now made the Gunners the betting favourites to claim the fourth Champions League spot.

Slowly but surely, Mikel Arteta is building a team that Arsenal fans can be proud of.

Thomas Frank

Slowly but surely Thomas Frank’s own take on Moneyball has been paying dividends at Brentford, as the club with one of the most interesting structures in the league system punches well above its weight. Frank appears to have secured Premier League football for another season at Brentford Community Stadium, a feat that many experts doubted he would be able to achieve. With a budget far smaller than Arteta’s, it can easily be argued that the softly spoken Dane has outperformed his Spanish counterpart.

Steven Gerrard

Great players do not always make for great managers. Just look at Roy Keane. However, Stevie G is showing that the crossover can be made, having transformed Rangers, before getting his big break in the Premier League. Part of his success has been his transfer pulling power, with the likes of Philippe Coutinho making all the difference for Aston Villa this season. He has not been at the helm long enough for his achievements to be properly measured against those of the Arsenal gaffer.

Brentford have come a long way since the days when they were competing for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy

Patrick Viera

Another former player, and very much in the mould of Mikel Arteta, Patrick Viera has done an incredible job at Selhurst Park, dragging Palace clear of relegation and getting them to play a brand of football that is wowing South London. He has even overseen two clean sheets against the free-flowing Man City, something Arteta could only dream of achieving.

In conclusion, as managerial newbies go, Arteta has by far the highest powered and pressured job in the league. But he still has some way to go to prove he is the most improved Premier League gaffer.

See More: Top 5 Arsenal Players Who Can Leave 2022: Transfer News Latest