In 2019, Arsenal gave Mikel Arteta, City assistant and former Arsenal player, confidence as head coach. After a round with Arsene Wenger successor Unai Emery, which did not give the Arsenal owners the feeling of a new era of greatness for the club, the choice fell on a former player with no experience as a head coach. After every single season, “pundits” and couch experts have been crying out for change. Mikel Arteta doesn’t have what it takes to lead Arsenal to more than “near-titles”. Arsenal kept the Spaniard, loaded the squad with players he needed, and are now on course for the Premier League title. We think Manchester United would have done the same, if the owners had given Solskjaer the same patience and trust Arsenal have shown Arteta.
Harry Maguire praised Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the summer, calling the Norwegian “the best coach he has played for”. This was with Ruben Amorim on duty and after a few seasons with Erik ten Hag (plus a guest appearance by Ralf Rangnick). Maguire added that Solskjaer didn’t even have as good players as Man United have had after the Norwegian was sacked.
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Solskjaer was brought in a few days before Christmas Eve 2018, brought smiles and laughter into the training of a bunch of Man Utd players devoid of confidence after the last few months of a cranky Jose Mourinho, and led United to consecutive victories. With 14 wins in 19 games, the Norwegian super substitute was permanently contracted. The season was saved to 6th place with a Europa League ticket, five points behind the CL ticket.
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2019/20 season ended in 3rd place in the Premier League, while the 2020/21 season was another place up to 2nd place, only 12 points away from the title. This is very reminiscent of Mikel Arteta’s climb with Arsenal.
To understand what a feat 2nd and 3rd place in the Premier League was in those seasons, we have to rewind for the reinforcements Ole Gunnar Solskjaer received these two seasons:
2019
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire
2020
Bruno Fernandes, Odion Ighalo, Donny van de Beek, Facundo Pellistri, Alex Telles, Edinson Cavani.
Apart from Fernandes, not exactly dream signings for Solskjaer. Still, two top-three finishes in a row.
Then came the 2021/2022 season with Sancho and Varane in. Later, Cristiano Ronaldo also dropped into the United squad, well into the season and outside of Solskjaer’s original plans. In the latter part of November 2021, Man Utd were in 7th place in the Premier League, twelve points behind leaders Chelsea. The United management pressed the panic button and sacked Solskjaer.
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Mikel Arteta retained the trust since 2019 at Arsenal, built continuity in the team and has received a solid number of reinforcements that fit into the long-term commitment. Now the Arsenal supporters smell the Premier League title.
We are convinced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would have led Man Utd to the league title – if he had been given the same trust as Arteta at Arsenal.
All about Tottenham – Manchester United
