Cesc Fabregas gives his verdict on Mikel Arteta, shares Arsenal prediction

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Arsenal legend Cesc Fabregas has given his verdict on Mikel Arteta and how he feels the Gunners will do in future with the 38-year-old at the helm, in conversation with The Guardian.

Arteta was confirmed as Arsenal’s new permanent head coach just before Christmas last year, the Spaniard replacing compatriot Unai Emery after the latter was axed by the Emirates Stadium side.

At the time, Arsenal were stuck in a rut, languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a meagre five wins all season amid some poor results, including a draw with relegation strugglers Norwich City.

Things have since looked up for Arsenal under Arteta, and at the time of the Premier League’s suspension, were sitting ninth in the table, unbeaten in their last eight league games, a good springboard upon which to resume their campaign.

“Chelsea took a gamble with Frank [Lampard] because it was only his second year as a main coach and he’s done very well,” Fabregas told The Guardian. “With Mikel it’s a little bit of the same. He’s been with Pep [Guardiola] for three years, and I’m sure he’s like a master for any young coach that wants to start being a manager.

“I think he’s done well [so far] and I’m sure he’s brought back some values to the club that was needed. Obviously it’s a much harder job than Chelsea in terms of rebuilding the squad, and they are very young, and they had problems because [Arteta] started much further down the line than Chelsea, but I’m positive that they will pick up very soon and that next season could be the one for them.”

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Arsenal could hardly have picked a better head coach than Arteta – a club icon who learned the ropes under the great Pep Guardiola and now gets the chance to mould in his image a team that has underachieved in recent years.

The key thing, like Fabregas has alluded to, is that he needs time – the signs are there and, with a little time to really stamp his mark on the Gunners, the potential for success is there.