Speaking to the Evening Standard’s Simon Collings, James Olley - our Chief Football Correspondent - offered his initial thoughts on Mikel Arteta’s first moments as Arsenal head coach.
“I thought he struck the right tone,” James reflected. “I thought he was humble in the sense that he recognises that he has a lot of inexperience to overcome here but also recognises the problems that lead to his appointment and I think the players are going to be told, quickly, that it's 'my way or the highway' and that's maybe something they've needed to hear for some time.”
One criticism aimed at Emery during his tenure at the Emirates was the difficulty he found communicating affectively with his players and the media.
While James was at pains to judge someone who, essentially, was speaking in a foreign language, he raised the point that despite Arteta’s greater experience of English culture and the English language, he may still have difficulties getting his message across mentally, if not orally.
James continued: “Because he doesn't have the pedigree that Unai Emery had when he was here, and obviously what Arsene Wenger had, is that vision viable? Can it translate affectively to Arsenal and the way they play and ultimately be successful?
“I thought it was significant that he mentioned [Manchester] City and obviously his experiences there working with Pep Guardiola and he mentioned the adversity they had to overcome there in terms of trying to implement the Guardiola-style in English football.
“Having gone through that experience and having overcome those hurdles should stand him in good stead for what he has to face.”
