Mikel Arteta has established himself among football's elite coaches following Arsenal's Premier League triumph, according to former Gunners defender Philippe Senderos. The Spanish manager, who took charge in December 2019, has transformed the club into title contenders and delivered domestic supremacy for the first time since the legendary Invincibles of 2003-04.
Senderos believes Arteta's achievement places him in rarefied company alongside Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique, Diego Simeone, and Carlo Ancelotti. "If you had one goal when you hire a young coach, it's for him to develop the team and make them title contenders," Senderos told GOAL exclusively. "He's actually won the Premier League with this squad. Getting them over the line was very important. Who is capable of winning the Premier League? Not many in the world, so he definitely has a lot of credit."
Building Arsenal's Foundation
The Arsenal manager's success rests on more than individual brilliance. The club has constructed a resilient defensive framework, with David Raya winning the Premier League Golden Glove across three consecutive seasons. Arsenal's mastery of set-piece attacks has become a defining characteristic, unlocking victories through a variety of dead-ball scenarios rather than relying on open play dominance alone.
Senderos highlighted this tactical sophistication: "It's not a one-trick pony. They've scored many different types of goals from set-pieces and identified something in the modern game they've really taken advantage of. It's unlocked a lot of games for them. Knowing how well they work defensively and how organized they are, it's given them a huge platform to win games." The Gunners have won matches 1-0 through disciplined execution, demonstrating that titles are captured through consistency rather than spectacular performances.
Champions League Glory Within Reach
Arsenal now pursues their first Champions League title in club history. Success on Europe's grandest stage would surpass even the achievements of the Invincibles, creating a historic double that no Arsenal team has accomplished. Whether this feat would exceed the legacy of Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira's unbeaten campaign remains debatable, but Arteta's squad has positioned itself to write a new chapter in the club's storied history.
