Mikel Arteta’s former Arsenal team-mates always felt that he was destined to go into management once his playing career came to an end.
The Spanish midfielder was known to think about the game deeply, analysing his own performance and exploring different tactical possibilities.
A leader on the pitch and in the dressing room, he was named club captain following Thomas Vermaelen’s move to Barcelona in the summer of 2014.
That same year, Arsenal’s in-house magazine asked Arteta about his coaching philosophy and ambitions for the future.
“I’ll have absolutely everyone 120 per cent committed, that’s the first thing. If not, you don’t play for me,” he said.
“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.
“Then I want the football to be expressive, entertaining. I cannot have a concept of football where everything is based on the opposition.”
Arteta’s answer reveals the importance he places on hard work and commitment. To succeed under him, players have to fully believe in the project and his methods.
This uncompromising ethos has caused issues with a few senior players, most notably Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who were both allowed to leave the club on free transfers.
In the way he handled those difficult situations, Arteta showed that he will prioritise unity and group togetherness over the individual, no matter how talented they are.
The other part of his answer establishes his credentials as a proactive coach, who will look to dictate the terms upon which a game is played rather than simply responding to the opposition.
Over time, Arteta has been able to shape the Arsenal team in his image, bringing these principles to the fore.
After failing to qualify for the Champions League so far under his management, they are currently in top spot and hoping to challenge for the title.
Read our full cover feature on Mikel Arteta's Arsenal in the January 2023 issue of FourFourTwo, out now
