Mikel Arteta has said he is grateful for the patience and support the Arsenal board have shown him, following the latest Premier League dismissal.
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank was sacked on Wednesday and has become the fifth permanent Premier League manager to be sacked this season. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca also left his position by mutual consent.
Discussing the decision of Arsenal’s North London rivals, Arteta admitted he was sad to see another colleague lose his job.
“Well, always very sad news when you have a colleague that doesn’t continue doing his job because Thomas is an excellent coach, he’s an extraordinary man as well and he’s proven that in the league,” he told the media ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Brentford.
“We know where we are. We know that our responsibility is beyond just performance. That sometimes result dictates what happens with us. We wish him all the very best for whatever he decides to do next.”
At over six years, Arteta is the second-longest serving manager in the Premier League, behind Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola. He outlined the importance of being aligned with the hierarchy of the club for his longevity at the Emirates.
Asked on how grateful he is for the support of the Arsenal board, he added: “Very happy obviously, that’s what we all wanted from the beginning and between all of us we have been able to sustain and bring that stability, performance, joy and progression to the club and hopefully this season we’re going to even be better.”
