Kenya Sport

Arsenal FC: Current Manager Mikel Arteta and Historical Coaching Overview

Mikel Arteta, the Spanish tactician leading Arsenal, has steadily reshaped the team since taking charge in December 2019. A product of the famed La Masia academy, Arteta’s playing career saw him at clubs like Rangers, Everton, and Arsenal before transitioning into coaching. His time as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City greatly influenced his managerial style.

Arteta's Coaching Philosophy and Style

Under Arteta, Arsenal blends positional control with aggressive high pressing. This hybrid approach combines elements reminiscent of Guardiola’s structured build-up and Klopp’s intense gegenpressing. It has helped Arsenal dominate both defensive low-block teams and high-press opponents. The Gunners notably outplayed Real Madrid’s midfield in their 2024-25 UEFA Champions League clash, showcasing this tactical mix.

Arsenal Coaching 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

Specialist Role: Set Piece Coach Nicolas Jover

Nicolas Jover, born October 28, 1981, in Germany, joined Arsenal in 2021 after gaining recognition for his set-piece work at Manchester City. Jover helped Arsenal score 20 set-piece goals in the 2023-24 Premier League season, 16 from corners alone, equaling the record for most corner goals in a single Premier League campaign.

Historical Arsenal Managers Timeline

  • Thomas Mitchell (Scotland): Mar 30, 1897 - Mar 10, 1898, Matches: 45, Wins: 23, Draws: 8, Losses: 14, Goals For: 106, Goals Against: 79, Win %: 51.11%, Major Trophies: None
  • William Elcoat (England): Apr 11, 1898 - Feb 16, 1899, Matches: 44, Wins: 21, Draws: 6, Losses: 17, GF: 86, GA: 67, Win %: 47.73%, Trophies: None
  • Arthur Kennedy (England): Feb 21, 1899 - Apr 29, 1899, Matches: 15, Wins: 8, Draws: 3, Losses: 4, GF: 31, GA: 17, Win %: 53.33%, Trophies: None
  • Harry Bradshaw (England): Jun 30, 1899 - Apr 30, 1904, Matches: 235, Wins: 118, Draws: 44, Losses: 73, GF: 403, GA: 237, Win %: 50.21%, Trophies: None
  • Phil Kelso (Scotland): May 1, 1904 - Feb 9, 1908, Matches: 152, Wins: 63, Draws: 31, Losses: 58, GF: 225, GA: 229, Win %: 41.45%, Trophies: None
  • George Morrell (Scotland): Feb 10, 1908 - Apr 13, 1915, Matches: 309, Wins: 113, Draws: 74, Losses: 122, GF: 392, GA: 428, Win %: 36.57%, Trophies: None
  • James McEwen (England): Apr 19, 1915 - May 24, 1919, Matches: 2, Wins: 1, Draws: 0, Losses: 1, GF: 7, GA: 3, Win %: 50.00%, Trophies: None
  • Leslie Knighton (England): May 25, 1919 - May 16, 1925, Matches: 286, Wins: 105, Draws: 63, Losses: 118, GF: 367, GA: 401, Win %: 36.71%, Trophies: None
  • Herbert Chapman (England): Jun 11, 1925 - Jan 6, 1934, Matches: 411, Wins: 204, Draws: 97, Losses: 110, GF: 879, GA: 616, Win %: 49.64%, Major Trophies: 2 First Division titles, 1 FA Cup, 3 Shields
  • Joe Shaw (England): Jan 6, 1934 - May 28, 1934, Matches: 23, Wins: 14, Draws: 3, Losses: 6, GF: 44, GA: 29, Win %: 60.87%, Major Trophy: 1 First Division
  • George Allison (England): May 28, 1934 - May 31, 1947, Matches: 279, Wins: 129, Draws: 74, Losses: 76, GF: 534, GA: 327, Win %: 46.24%, Major Trophies: 2 First Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 Shields
  • Tom Whittaker (England): Jun 2, 1947 - Oct 24, 1956, Matches: 430, Wins: 203, Draws: 106, Losses: 121, GF: 802, GA: 568, Win %: 47.21%, Major Trophies: 2 First Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 Shields
  • Jack Crayston (England): Oct 24, 1956 - May 19, 1958, Matches: 81, Wins: 34, Draws: 17, Losses: 30, GF: 148, GA: 151, Win %: 41.98%, Trophies: None
  • George Swindin (England): Jun 21, 1958 - May 1, 1962, Matches: 186, Wins: 76, Draws: 43, Losses: 67, GF: 336, GA: 330, Win %: 40.86%, Trophies: None
  • Billy Wright (England): May 1, 1962 - Jun 13, 1966, Matches: 182, Wins: 70, Draws: 43, Losses: 69, GF: 336, GA: 330, Win %: 38.46%, Trophies: None
  • Bertie Mee (England): Jun 20, 1966 - May 4, 1976, Matches: 539, Wins: 241, Draws: 148, Losses: 150, GF: 739, GA: 542, Win %: 44.71%, Major Trophies: 1 First Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 Fairs Cup
  • Terry Neill (Northern Ireland): Jul 9, 1976 - Dec 16, 1983, Matches: 416, Wins: 187, Draws: 117, Losses: 112, GF: 601, GA: 446, Win %: 44.95%, Major Trophy: 1 FA Cup
  • Don Howe (England): Dec 16, 1983 - Mar 22, 1986, Matches: 117, Wins: 54, Draws: 32, Losses: 31, GF: 187, GA: 142, Win %: 46.15%, Trophies: None
  • Steve Burtenshaw (England): Mar 23, 1986 - May 14, 1986, Matches: 11, Wins: 3, Draws: 2, Losses: 6, GF: 7, GA: 15, Win %: 27.27%, Trophies: None
  • George Graham (Scotland): May 14, 1986 - Feb 21, 1995, Matches: 460, Wins: 225, Draws: 133, Losses: 102, GF: 711, GA: 403, Win %: 48.91%, Major Trophies: 2 First Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cups, 1 CWC, 1 Shield
  • Stewart Houston (Scotland): Feb 21, 1995 - Jun 15, 1995, Matches: 19, Wins: 7, Draws: 3, Losses: 9, GF: 29, GA: 25, Win %: 36.84%, Trophies: None
  • Bruce Rioch (Scotland): Jun 15, 1995 - Aug 12, 1996, Matches: 47, Wins: 22, Draws: 15, Losses: 10, GF: 67, GA: 37, Win %: 46.81%, Trophies: None
  • Stewart Houston (2nd spell) (Scotland): Aug 12, 1996 - Sep 13, 1996, Matches: 6, Wins: 2, Draws: 2, Losses: 2, GF: 11, GA: 10, Win %: 33.33%, Trophies: None
  • Pat Rice (Northern Ireland): Sep 13, 1996 - Sep 30, 1996, Matches: 4, Wins: 3, Draws: 0, Losses: 1, GF: 10, GA: 4, Win %: 75.00%, Trophies: None
  • Arsène Wenger (France): Oct 1, 1996 - May 13, 2018, Matches: 1235, Wins: 707, Draws: 280, Losses: 248, GF: 2156, GA: 1147, Win %: 57.25%, Major Trophies: 3 Premier League, 7 FA Cups, 7 Shields
  • Unai Emery (Spain): May 23, 2018 - Nov 29, 2019, Matches: 78, Wins: 43, Draws: 16, Losses: 19, GF: 152, GA: 100, Win %: 55.13%, Trophies: None
  • Freddie Ljungberg (Sweden, interim): Nov 29, 2019 - Dec 21, 2019, Matches: 6, Wins: 1, Draws: 3, Losses: 2, GF: 8, GA: 10, Win %: 16.67%, Trophies: None
  • Mikel Arteta (Spain): Dec 22, 2019 - Present (Dec 2024), Matches: 255, Wins: 151, Draws: 44, Losses: 60, GF: 480, GA: 250, Win %: 59.22%, Major Trophies: 1 FA Cup, 2 Shields

Arsenal’s Legacy and Current Ambitions

Arsenal is among North London's oldest football institutions, boasting 47 trophies since inception but still chasing a major European title. Their fiercest rivals, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, have collected multiple continental trophies, including Tottenham's 2024-25 UEFA Europa League win. Arsenal continue to strive for their first UEFA Champions League triumph while consolidating their domestic strength under Arteta’s leadership.

Related Articles