Mikel Arteta's six highs and lows as Arsenal manager reaches huge milestone

Mike Arteta will take charge of his 200th Premier League game as Arsenal manager.

The majority have been wins - 118 in total - and it’s largely been on an upward curve since he took charge at the Emirates in December 2019. Arsenal have won the FA Cup, made two title challenges and got back into the Champions League, reaching their first quarter final since 2010.

There is one standout game which was not in the Premier League but generally the good and bad of Arteta’s reign has played out in the league. So, here’s a look at Arteta ’s best three and worst three games in charge as he celebrates a landmark weekend.

FA CUP final, August 1, 2020

Arsenal 2 Chelsea 1

(Aubameyang 28 pen, 67)

Arsenal were underdogs going into the final and yet overcame the odds to beat Chelsea to extend their record to winning the FA Cup a record 14 times.

It was all about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who scored twice as Arsenal came from behind to win 2-1 and clinch a trophy for Arteta in his first season in charge.

Never underestimate the importance of silverware. Arteta has only won 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 Arteta’s reign.

Arsenal: Martinez; Bellerin, Holding, Luiz, Tierney, Maitland-Niles; Xhaka, Ceballos, Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang.

Substitutions: 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, October 8, 2023

(Martinelli, 86)

Why this one over the 5-1 this season, I hear you ask.

Simple. It ended a run of 12 Premier League defeats to Manchester City and was Arsenal’s first win over the champions in eight years.

This gave Arsenal confidence and belief that they could compete with Pep Guardiola ’s men even if it was tight and only decided at the death.

The whole stadium erupted and Arsenal truly believed they could compete for the title.

It was incredibly fraught, close and only decided by Gabriel Martinelli’s late winner which only added to the drama.

Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko (Tomiyasu, 75); Jorginho (Haverez, 75), Odegaard, Rice, Jesus, Trossard (Martinelli, 46), Nketiah (Partey, 75)

Subs not used: Fabio Vieira, R Nelson, A Ramsdale, J Kiwior, E Smith Rowe

Arsenal 3 Bournemouth 2, March 4, 2023

(Partey, 62, White, 70, Nelson 97)

This was the loudest most fans had ever heard the Emirates. From 2-0 down, Arsenal snatched victory with Reiss Nelson’s 97th minute winner.

The whole place erupted. It was not just about the comeback. It was also about a new belief at Arsenal as they were in the title chase and a new atmosphere in the stadium which had gone from groans to pure joy on a regular basis.

This game summed up the mood of that time. It really did. It showed Arsenal were determined to fight, they played a big part in thrilling games and Mikel Arteta had allowed fans to dream. Incredible.

Arsenal: Ramsdale, Zinchenko, Tomiyasu (White, 45), Gabriel, W Saliba, Vieira (G Xhaka, 84), T Partey, 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 then Mikel Arteta might not be Arsenal manager today.

This was the pits. As bad as it gets. Arsenal were flirting with a relegation scrap. And losing at home to Burnley in front of a full house rather than in Covid times could have spelt the end.

Arsenal were woeful, Arteta was under mounting pressure and the team was a mess. After the joy of winning the FA Cup a few months earlier, Arsenal were now in a rut.

This game will go down as Arteta’s lowest point. The club backed him publicly but he did well to ride 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 Aubameyang

Subs not used: J Willock, S Mustafi, R Runarsson, E Smith Rowe

Manchester City 5 Arsenal 0, August 28, 2022

Arsenal lost their opening three games of the 2022/23 season, conceding nine goals in the process as they crashed at Brentford, lost at home to Chelsea and were humiliated by Manchester City. Granit Xhaka saw red again.

Arsenal were left bottom of the Premier League without scoring a goal and things looked bleak for Arteta.

Fans were beginning to wonder whether the Arsenal manager was up to the job and whether he could turn things around.

This was a really 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), P Aubameyang (A Lacazette, 59)

Subs not used: Gabriel Martinelli, Nuno Tavares, A Ramsdale, A Sambi Lokonga, A Okonkwo, P Mari

Manchester City 4 Arsenal 1, April 26, 2023

(Holding, 86)

This gets 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 as they led the table for so long.

But it came crashing down as William Saliba got injured in the run-in, they dropped points and the trip to title rivals City was make-or-break.

And Arsenal broke. That’s the long and short of it.

They got absolutely monstered and bullied. The defeat completely killed off their hope of winning the title and that’s why this was such a low even amid such an exciting season.

Arsenal: A Ramsdale, O Zinchenko, Gabriel, R Holding, B White, G Xhaka (Jorginho, 60), T Partey (yellow card), M Odegaard (E Smith Rowe, 71), Gabriel Jesus (R Nelson, 80), B Saka (E Nketiah, 80), Gabriel Martinelli (L Trossard, 60)

Subs not used: Fabio Vieira, J Kiwior, K Tierney, M Turner