Arsenal FC Managers: Mikel Arteta and Club Leadership History

Arsenal is known for its celebrated managers, with Arsène Wenger holding the most successful legacy. Since Wenger’s departure, the club has struggled to reclaim a league title, last won in the unbeaten 2003-04 season. The current hierarchy seems content with trophies like the FA Cup and Community Shield, while the dream of winning the UEFA Champions League remains alive. Arsenal have secured 47 trophies overall but have yet to capture a European title. Their North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, have already achieved multiple European victories. Tottenham notably claimed the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League, intensifying Arsenal’s ambition for continental success.

Mikel Arteta: Background and Career

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, is a Spanish former midfielder who began at La Masia, Barcelona’s famous academy. Though he started his professional career at Rangers in Scotland, his playing style was often underrated despite being pivotal for his teams. Arteta reached his peak form at Everton and also played under Arsène Wenger at Arsenal.

After retiring, Arteta transitioned into coaching, serving as assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City before taking the helm at Arsenal in December 2019. His tenure has been a rebuilding phase with limited trophies so far, but hopes remain high that his tactical approach will soon bring more silverware.

Tactics and Style

Arsenal under Arteta blend positional control with aggressive pressing. His approach mixes Guardiola’s structured build-up and Klopp’s gegenpressing, creating a hybrid style. This system helps Arsenal dominate both defensive low-block teams and stronger pressing opponents, evident in their victory over Real Madrid in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League where they controlled the midfield.

Coaching and Support Staff

• Manager: Mikel Arteta
• Assistant Managers: Albert Stuivenberg, Nicolas Jover, Miguel Molina, Gabriel Heinze
• Goalkeeping Coach: Inaki Cana
• Academy Manager: Per Mertesacker
• Head of Sports Medicine and Performance: Zafar Iqbal
• Managing Director: Richard Garlick
• Chief Commercial Officer: Juliet Slot
• Chief Financial Officer: Stuart Wisely
• Director of Football Operations: James King

Set Piece Coach: Nicolas Jover

Nicolas Jover, born October 28, 1981, in Germany, began as a video analyst at Montpellier before gaining recognition as Manchester City’s set-piece coach. Joining Arsenal in 2021, Jover has been key to Arsenal’s set-piece success. In the 2023-24 Premier League season, Arsenal scored 20 goals from set pieces, the highest in the league, with 16 coming from corners, tying a single-season record.

History of Arsenal Managers

• Thomas Mitchell (Scotland): Mar 30, 1897 - Mar 10, 1898, 45 matches, 23 wins, 8 draws, 14 losses, 106 GF, 79 GA, 51.11% win rate
• William Elcoat (England): Apr 11, 1898 - Feb 16, 1899, 44 matches, 21 wins, 6 draws, 17 losses, 86 GF, 67 GA, 47.73% win rate
• Arthur Kennedy (England): Feb 21, 1899 - Apr 29, 1899, 15 matches, 8 wins, 3 draws, 4 losses, 31 GF, 17 GA, 53.33% win rate
• Harry Bradshaw (England): Jun 30, 1899 - Apr 30, 1904, 235 matches, 118 wins, 44 draws, 73 losses, 403 GF, 237 GA, 50.21% win rate
• Phil Kelso (Scotland): May 1, 1904 - Feb 9, 1908, 152 matches, 63 wins, 31 draws, 58 losses, 225 GF, 229 GA, 41.45% win rate
• George Morrell (Scotland): Feb 10, 1908 - Apr 13, 1915, 309 matches, 113 wins, 74 draws, 122 losses, 392 GF, 428 GA, 36.57% win rate
• James McEwen (England): Apr 19, 1915 - May 24, 1919, 2 matches, 1 win, 0 draws, 1 loss, 7 GF, 3 GA, 50.00% win rate
• Leslie Knighton (England): May 25, 1919 - May 16, 1925, 286 matches, 105 wins, 63 draws, 118 losses, 367 GF, 401 GA, 36.71% win rate
• Herbert Chapman (England): Jun 11, 1925 - Jan 6, 1934, 411 matches, 204 wins, 97 draws, 110 losses, 879 GF, 616 GA, 49.64% win rate, Major Trophies: 2 First Division, 1 FA Cup, 3 Shield
• Joe Shaw (England): Jan 6, 1934 - May 28, 1934, 23 matches, 14 wins, 3 draws, 6 losses, 44 GF, 29 GA, 60.87% win rate, 1 First Division
• George Allison (England): May 28, 1934 - May 31, 1947, 279 matches, 129 wins, 74 draws, 76 losses, 534 GF, 327 GA, 46.24% win rate, Major Trophies: 2 First Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 Shield
• Tom Whittaker (England): Jun 2, 1947 - Oct 24, 1956, 430 matches, 203 wins, 106 draws, 121 losses, 802 GF, 568 GA, 47.21% win rate, Major Trophies: 2 First Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 Shield
• Jack Crayston (England): Oct 24, 1956 - May 19, 1958, 81 matches, 34 wins, 17 draws, 30 losses, 148 GF, 151 GA, 41.98% win rate
• George Swindin (England): Jun 21, 1958 - May 1, 1962, 186 matches, 76 wins, 43 draws, 67 losses, 336 GF, 330 GA, 40.86% win rate
• Billy Wright (England): May 1, 1962 - Jun 13, 1966, 182 matches, 70 wins, 43 draws, 69 losses, 336 GF, 330 GA, 38.46% win rate
• Bertie Mee (England): Jun 20, 1966 - May 4, 1976, 539 matches, 241 wins, 148 draws, 150 losses, 739 GF, 542 GA, 44.71% win rate, Major Trophies: 1 First Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 Fairs Cup
• Terry Neill (Northern Ireland): Jul 9, 1976 - Dec 16, 1983, 416 matches, 187 wins, 117 draws, 112 losses, 601 GF, 446 GA, 44.95% win rate, 1 FA Cup
• Don Howe (England): Dec 16, 1983 - Mar 22, 1986, 117 matches, 54 wins, 32 draws, 31 losses, 187 GF, 142 GA, 46.15% win rate
• Steve Burtenshaw (England): Mar 23, 1986 - May 14, 1986, 11 matches, 3 wins, 2 draws, 6 losses, 7 GF, 15 GA, 27.27% win rate
• George Graham (Scotland): May 14, 1986 - Feb 21, 1995, 460 matches, 225 wins, 133 draws, 102 losses, 711 GF, 403 GA, 48.91% win rate, Major Trophies: 2 First Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cups, 1 CWC, 1 Shield
• Stewart Houston (Scotland): Feb 21, 1995 - Jun 15, 1995, 19 matches, 7 wins, 3 draws, 9 losses, 29 GF, 25 GA, 36.84% win rate
• Bruce Rioch (Scotland): Jun 15, 1995 - Aug 12, 1996, 47 matches, 22 wins, 15 draws, 10 losses, 67 GF, 37 GA, 46.81% win rate
• Stewart Houston (2nd time) (Scotland): Aug 12, 1996 - Sep 13, 1996, 6 matches, 2 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses, 11 GF, 10 GA, 33.33% win rate
• Pat Rice (Northern Ireland): Sep 13, 1996 - Sep 30, 1996, 4 matches, 3 wins, 0 draws, 1 loss, 10 GF, 4 GA, 75.00% win rate
• Arsène Wenger (France): Oct 1, 1996 - May 13, 2018, 1235 matches, 707 wins, 280 draws, 248 losses, 2156 GF, 1147 GA, 57.25% win rate, Major Trophies: 3 Premier League, 7 FA Cups, 7 Shields
• Unai Emery (Spain): May 23, 2018 - Nov 29, 2019, 78 matches, 43 wins, 16 draws, 19 losses, 152 GF, 100 GA, 55.13% win rate
• Freddie Ljungberg (interim) (Sweden): Nov 29, 2019 - Dec 21, 2019, 6 matches, 1 win, 3 draws, 2 losses, 8 GF, 10 GA, 16.67% win rate
• Mikel Arteta (Spain): Dec 22, 2019 - Present (as of Dec 2024), 255 matches, 151 wins, 44 draws, 60 losses, 480 GF, 250 GA, 59.22% win rate, Major Trophies: 1 FA Cup, 2 Shields

Common Questions

• Who manages Arsenal now? Mikel Arteta is the current manager.
• Who is Arsenal's greatest manager? Arsène Wenger is regarded as the club’s greatest manager.
• What clubs did Arteta play for? Barcelona B, Paris Saint-Germain, Rangers, Real Sociedad, Everton, and Arsenal.
• When did Arteta become Arsenal manager? December 20, 2019.