Martin Keown raves over Mikel Arteta but warns about scale of Arsenal rebuilding job

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Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has endorsed Mikel Arteta to be the club’s new manager but underlined the scale of the job at hand.

In the Daily Mail, Keown hailed Arteta’s footballing influences amid reports by the BBC that he is Arsenal’s top target to succeed Unai Emery.

He said: “Mikel Arteta has worked with Pep Guardiola since 2016 and I regard the Manchester City boss as one of the finest to ever manage. That philosophy he came from, his Barcelona education, the way they pass the ball. It is in the mould of Arsene Wenger, and perhaps that is why Arsenal believe Arteta might be the right man for the job.

“If confirmed as new head coach, Arteta will want to get to work immediately… to bring in his backroom staff and get on the training field. Let’s not forget the January transfer window is fast approaching. There is big work to be done at that club over the coming weeks.”

TBR’s View – Arteta would be taking major risk with Arsenal job as his maiden managerial role

The Arsenal job would be a daunting one for a manager with vast experience; the imbalanced, flimsy squad, the unrest at board level, Mesut Ozil and Granit Xhaka and many more issues to deal with.

But for a man who has never been in the hotseat to take on those challenges mid-season is a huge risk for Arteta to take with his burgeoning reputation.

He might have been better overseeing a smooth transition post-Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, but he has a connection with Arsenal and clearly wants to help them.

Arteta deserves the support of the fans and it would be hugely impressive if he can transform Arsenal despite his lack of experience.