Mikel Arteta might have done a series of positive things ever since taking charge of Arsenal last December but according to David O’Leary, the Spanish boss will be judged on how he conducts his business in the transfer market.
The Gunners have made steady progress under their relatively new manager but Mikel Arteta still needs to reshape the first-team squad and undo all the mess that Unai Emery had spread at the club during his time. And as per the former Arsenal man, Arteta will have to make all the right calls once the current season comes to an end.
The Gunners legend said, as per Goal: “I don’t think he’s put a foot wrong off the field.
“There are things that he’s done that nobody knows about. But what you can say, what he’s come in behind the scenes and done has just been absolutely fantastic.
“The way he’s handled himself, the way he’s handled himself through this crisis and the things he’s done without seeking publicity, the things he’s implemented structurally at the club, I don’t think he’s put a foot wrong.
“I think he has a hard task, without a doubt, he’s come in and taken a hard job on. He needs players. The squad he has he will make better. Will that push them towards being a top-four club? No, I don’t see that. I think where he is going to be judged is on recruitment. It’s easier said than done, but you’ve got to get players out.
“That’s hard to do and he’ll be judged on that, but he’ll also be certainly judged on the personnel he brings in.”
Can Mikel Arteta prove his worth this summer?
Mikel Arteta has been thrown into the deep end of the pool by the Gunners management since he will not only have to bring in the right players but at the same time, he will have to make sure that he holds onto his top stars.
The likes of Lacazette, Aubameyang and Bukayo Saka have all been subject of transfer interests from major European clubs and if Arteta can manage to keep hold of all of them then Arsenal will automatically be looking at a more propitious 2020-21.
And as far as new arrivals are concerned, the manager will take at least three transfer windows to get everything streamlined at the club so even if the recruitment process this summer is a failure, one shouldn’t pose negative judgements regarding Mikel Arteta.
