Ian Wright makes huge Mikel Arteta claim after Arsenal win Premier League
Ian Wright believes Mikel Arteta is one win away from surpassing Arsene Wenger as the greatest manager in Arsenal history.
Arsenal finally got their hands on the Premier League trophy on Sunday as they celebrated a first league title since 2004.
The Gunners will continue their title celebrations with a trophy parade on Monday before attentions turn to next weekend’s Champions League final against PSG.
Arsenal will be underdogs against defending European champions PSG but Wright says an upset in Budapest would cement Arteta’s status as the greatest manager in the club’s history.
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Wenger won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cup trophies during his 22-year spell in charge and led Arsenal through an unbeaten season in 2003-04.
The only blemish on Wenger’s Arsenal record is a lack of European success, with his side losing to Barcelona in their only Champions League final in 2006.
‘When you look at what Arsene Wenger did, putting himself up as an assurance against the stadium,’ Wright said as Arsenal celebrated becoming Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years.
‘He was forced to stay at the club and what he did in those years, getting us into the Champions League was amazing. But he didn’t quite get us over the line in respect of the Champions League.
‘If Mikel Arteta can do that, he supersedes everybody. He will have done something no-one in our history has done before.
‘What he has done, coming into a club the size of Arsenal as a No. 2, turning everything around. He got players in, players out. He got the owners and the fans onside.
‘Now he’s one step away from winning the Champions league, which we have never done before. it’s incredible and he will go down as the best.’
Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions earlier in the week after title rivals Manchester City drew at Bournemouth.
That result saved Arsenal from a nervy final-day title decider, although they did overcome Crystal Palace to finish on 85 points, seven ahead of Man City.
Arsenal co-chairman Josh Kroenke was at Selhurst Park to watch the title celebrations said: ‘You can see, feel and hear what this means.
‘All of the fans behind me are overcome with emotion after 22 years. If anyone deserves this, it’s this group.
‘[We are invested] emotionally, financially, everything. This club means the world to us.
‘I think it took some people a few years to realise what that really meant but we have great people, players and coaches. We just have to continue providing the resources to do magical things like they did this season.
‘Credit to the staff, players and Mikel [Arteta] for keeping their heads on. They deserve it.
‘Today is about enjoying, tomorrow we will get back to work because there is one more to play.’
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المصدر: Metro UK