Mike Arteta takes the lead for his 200th Premier League match as Arsenal manager.
The majority has been won – a total of 118 – and it is largely on an upward curve since he took the lead at the Emirates in December 2019. Arsenal has won the FA Cup, made two title challenges and returned to the Champions League, reached their first quarter final since 2010.
There is one striking game that was not in the Premier League, but in general the good and bad thing about Arteta's regime took place in the competition. So here is a look at the best three and worst three games of Arteta who are in charge while celebrating a milestone weekend.
FA Cup -Final, August 1, 2020
Arsenal 2 Chelsea 1
(Aubameyang 28 Pen, 67)
Arsenal went underdogs in the final and still overcome the chances of beating Chelsea to extend their record to winning the FA Cup a record 14 times.
It was all about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who scored twice when Arsenal came from behind to win 2-1 and to achieve a trophy for Arteta in his first season that was in charge.
Never underestimate the importance of silverware. Arteta has won only one trophy in five years – and that is not enough.
Without this FA Cup, more questions would be asked. Arsenal did it at Wembley in Covid Times, it was surreal – but magical. And kickstarted artetas rule.
Arsenal: Martinez; Bellerin, Holding, Luiz, Tierney, Maitland-Niles; Xhaka, Ceballos, Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Replacements: Nketiah for Lacazette 82, Sokratis for Luiz 88, Kolasinac for Tierney 99.
Unused Subs: 33 Matt Macey (GK), 11 Lucas Torreira, 24 Reiss Nelson, 28 Joe Willock, 57 Matthew Smith, 77 Bukayo Saka
Arsenal 1 Man City 0, 8 October 2023
(Martinelli, 86)
Why this season during the 5-1, I hear you ask.
Simple. It ended a point of 12 Premier League Nedergagen for Manchester City and was the first victory of Arsenal over the champions in eight years.
This gave Arsenal confidence and conviction that they could compete with the men of Pep Guardiola, even if it was tight and only decided at death.
The entire stadium broke out and Arsenal really believed that they could compete for the title.
It was incredibly loaded, close by and only decided by the late winner of Gabriel Martinelli who contributed only to the drama.
Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko (Tomiyasu, 75); Jorginho (Haverez, 75), Odegaard, Rice, Jesus, Trossard (Martinelli, 46), Nketiah (Pedey, 75)
Subs not used: Fabio Vieira, R Nelson, A Ramsdale, J Kiwior, E Smith Rowe
Arsenal 3 Bournemouth 2, 4 March 2023
(Partey, 62, White, 70, Nelson 97)
This was the loudest that most fans had ever heard the Emirates. From 2-0 down, Arsenal took the victory with the 97th minute winner of Reiss Nelson.
The whole place broke out. It was not just about the comeback. It was also about a new belief in Arsenal when they were in the title yacht and a new atmosphere in the stadium that had a regular basis of moan to pure joy.
This game summarized the mood of that time. It really did. It showed that Arsenal was determined to fight, they played a major role in exciting games and Mikel Arteta had fans dreamed. Incredible.
Arsenal: Ramsdale, Zinchenko, Tomiyasu (White, 45), Gabriel, W Saliba, Vieira (G Xhaka, 84), t Pareny, M Odegaard, B Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, L Trossard (E Smith Rowe, 22 (R Nelson, 69))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Subs not used: Jorginho, J Kiwior, K Tierney, M Turner, R Holding
Arsenal 0 Burnley 1, December 13, 2020
(Aubameyang own goal)
If full crowds had been present around this time, Mikel Arteta might not be an Arsenal manager today.
These were the pits. As bad as it gets. Arsenal flirted with a relegation scrap. And losing at home to Burnley for a full house instead of in Covid Times, the end could have been playing.
Arsenal was miserable, Arteta was under increasing pressure and the team was a mess. After the joy to win the FA Cup a few months earlier, Arsenal was now in a rut.
This game will fall as the lowest point of Arteta. The club supported him publicly, but he did well to drive this out.
Arsenal: B Leno, K Tierney, Gabriel, R Holding, H Bellerin (A Maitland-Niles, 74), A Lacazette (D Ceballos, 60), B Saka, G Xhaka (Red Card (S/O 56), Elneny, Willian (E Nketiah, 82), P.
Subs not used: J Willock, S Mustafi, R Runarsson, E Smith Rowe
Manchester City 5 Arsenal 0, 28 August 2022
Arsenal lost their opening of three games of the 2022/23 season and gave nine goals while they crashed in Brentford, lost to Chelsea at home and were humiliated by Manchester City. Granit Xhaka saw red again.
Arsenal was left of the Premier League without scoring a goal and things looked bleak for Arteta.
Fans started to wonder if the Arsenal manager was working and whether he could turn things around.
This was really a bad day.
Arsenal: B Leno, R Holding, S Kolasinac, K Tierney, C Cedric, C Chambers, G Xhaka (Red Card (S/O 35), E Smith Rowe, M Odegaard (A Maitland-Niles, 71), B Saka (M Mohamed Elneny, 45), 4),
Subs not used: Gabriel Martinelli, Nuno Tavares, A Ramsdale, A Sambi Lokonga, A Okonkwo, P Mari
Manchester City 4 Arsenal 1, 26 April 2023
(Holding, 86)
This comes in because Arsenal had been the surprise package of the season. Arsenal -fans will never believe it, but so many neutrals wanted them to win the title because they were a different name, they were fresh and looked exciting because they led the table for so long.
But it crashed when William Saliba was injured in the run-in, they dropped points and the journey to title rivals City was made-or-break.
And Arsenal Brak. That is the long and shortage.
They were absolutely monster and bullied. The defeat completely killed their hope to win the title and that is why this was such a low, even in the midst of such an exciting season.
Arsenal: A Ramsdale, O Zinchenko, Gabriel, R Holding, B White, G Xhaka (Jorginho, 60), T Pareny (Yellow Card), M Odegaard (E Smith Rowe, 71), Gabriel Martinelli (L Trossard, 60)
Subs not used: Fabio Vieira, J Kiwior, K Tierney, M Turner
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