Gunners’ coach Mikel Arteta is delighted to have reached a major Premier League milestone this weekend – as he is set to be in charge of his 100th Premier League at the club.
The Spaniard made his first appearance in the dugout on Boxing Day 2019 when Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw away to Bournemouth. He will now become the third Arsenal manager to reach a century in the Premier League.
Both Arsène Wenger and George Graham celebrated their landmark games with victories, and if Mikel can do the same against Fulham, he’ll make it a record of 53 wins from his first 100 games.
That tally seems modest but it will be 15 more than George managed, and just one fewer than Arsène. In his 99 games so far, Arsenal have scored 157 goals and taken 172 points from there.
Arteta reacts to latest milestone
Speaking about the achievement in his pre-match press conference, Mikel said: “I’ve just found out about it – time flies!
“It is such a privilege to be in this football club and reach that number, and hopefully we can extend that for a long period and bring joy and a lot of wins.”
The biggest win for Arteta as an Arsenal manager came on his second anniversary – a 5-0 away thumping of Norwich City on December 26, 2021.
Asked what he had learnt from his 99 games so far, Arteta replied: “How difficult and how beautiful life is when you win or lose! Especially that. And then looking back, analyzing the journey and how many things that have happened, the way that every decision counts. Consistency is so important and just stick to what you believe in because in the end things will happen.”
He also added that he had doubted himself on several occasions along the line.
“We are human beings, we doubt,” he admitted. “Especially when you lose football matches. When the environment turns around and you don’t find a real way to win matches, even though you deserve to, you have to find other ways to adapt.”
Arteta hopes Arsenal can maintain strong start
Arsenal are the only side with a 100% record in the Premier League so far this season and Mikel Arteta will be hoping his side can maintain that form against Fulham.
The Cottagers are unbeaten themselves this season and have already claimed points against Liverpool on the opening day, so will come into this game with much confidence of their own.
However, Arsenal simply look like the team to beat for now and they will fancy their chance at claiming another three points to mark the first time they have won the first four games of a Premier League campaign since 2004.
