Arsenal target Mikel Arteta gave Gunners a glimpse of his managerial masterplan back in 2014
MIKEL ARTETA gave Arsenal fans a glimpse of his managerial vision when he spoke to the club’s official magazine in May 2014.
Now, 5½ years later, the former Gunners midfielder has become Unai Emery’s successor.
Arteta, 37, may not have realised it at the time that he was presenting his Arsenal plans for the future when he revealed his first principle will be total commitment.
And that should set alarm bells ringing for Mesut Ozil, who has been criticised for a lack of workrate.
Arteta, currently the Manchester City No 2, said at the time: “My philosophy will be clear. I will have everyone 120 per cent committed, that’s the first thing. If not, you don’t play for me.
“When it’s time to work it’s time to work and when it’s time to have fun then I’m the first one to do it — but that commitment is vital.”
But the Spaniard, who played for Arsenal between 2011-2016, said his managerial approach will be to put smiles on the faces of fans.
Arteta added: “I want the football to be expressive, entertaining. I cannot have a concept of football where everything is based on the opposition.
“We have to dictate the game, we have to be the ones taking the initiative, and we have to entertain the people coming to watch us. I’m 100 per cent convinced of those things and I think I could do it.
“I’d like to prove myself and my ideas about managing and encouraging people to do things in the way I believe is best.”
Arteta named former Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger as a major influence.
He said: “Arsene has a philosophy that he’s never going to change because he really believes in it.
“That is the most important thing, because if you don’t really believe in something then you’ll just change it after one bad result and drive your players crazy.
“Another is Pep Guardiola, who I’ve known since I was 15. The way he sees football is always to look ahead, then further ahead, always improving.
“Then there’s Mauricio Pochettino — he was my captain at Paris Saint-Germain and I always knew he’d become a manager.
“He has taken a lot of influence from Marcelo Bielsa. He takes a lot of risks, the players enjoy playing with him, his decisions are always sound and he’s got a good personality.
“I’ve admired Pochettino ever since I was young. He really looked after me when I was at PSG as well.”
Arteta revealed his Arsenal team-mates saw him as managerial material even back then.
The ex-Everton ace added: “My team-mates are always going, ‘You’re going to be a manager, you should be a manager!’
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“I know what the job means and how hard it is, especially when I look at the boss and how many hours he puts in.
“You need to sacrifice your family all over again, which I’ve done since I was 15.
“But I would love to manage a squad of players and staff.
“I’ve got it inside me, it’s true, and I want to do it.”