Championship centre-back Curtis Davies has backed Mike Arteta to follow in the footsteps of George Graham and Arsene Wenger to create his own era at Arsenal over the next decade or so.
The Derby County defender, who has also enjoyed spells with West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa, Leicester City, Birmingham City and Hull City, believes that the Gunners are taking the long view on their next appointment.
Back in 2018, Unai Emery was brought in as head coach after Wenger stood down after 22 years as manager only to be dismissed in November 2019 after failing to secure Champions League football or show progress in bringing in a more ambitious style of play.
Arteta will be expected to lay the foundations for a bold new chapter at the Emirates Stadium after having spent the last three years working under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
During that spell he helped lift two Premier League titles and complete a unique domestic treble through an approach that set new records for goals scored and points one in a single topflight campaign.
While the Spaniard has a history with Arsenal as a former club captain it is his potential as a cutting-edge head coach to lead the Gunners back to the forefront of European football that has seen him selected to take charge.
For Davies, it would be an ambitious move in its own right, although he cautioned fans against expecting too much too soon, especially if there is a desire for a Manchester City style of play to be implemented immediately.
"It's impossible," he said on Sky Sports' The Debate programme. "You don't have the same players. You look at Manchester City's squad, it's ridiculous.
"People that don't get on their bench would get in every other team in the Premier League. To compare squads, no."
That does not mean that Davies is sceptical over the idea of appointing Arteta, however. Instead he thinks that the true value of his return will only be seen once the time has passed for the Spaniard to do his work.
"The thing about Arsenal, the longevity of their managers when they've been successful," he said. "George Graham was highly successful, Arsene Wenger had over 20 years and did really well at the club.
"Maybe they're looking at this now they believe can be that next project.
"Arsene Wenger went in there and no one knew what he was going to bring and maybe now with Arteta he's another one that can stay 10-15 years and tries to build the club up to where they want to be and expect to be, challenging for that top spot."
