Pep Guardiola has claimed that Mikel Arteta already had a 'monster' attitude towards coaching before taking him under his wing at Manchester City.
Arteta's Arsenal have made the best possible start to the new Premier League season. They currently edge City by two points in the league, but after their best start since the Invincibles in 2003/04, the Gunners have recorded 34 of a possible 39 points and look set to go into the World Cup enforced break top of the tree.
Nevertheless, it has taken a while to get to this point. After two eighth-placed finishes, some supporters were calling for Arteta to be sacked. Guardiola, though, has always known that he was destined to be an elite manager.
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Before his managerial career officially started at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta impressed as an assistant coach at City. Many presumed that Guardiola was simply guiding his friend for a career in management, but during an interview with Rio Ferdinand for BT Sport, he insisted that Arteta already possessed the qualities to make it as a top coach.
Speaking about the impact Guardiola had on Arteta's career in coaching, Ferdinand said: "You've created a monster [in Mikel Arteta]." However, the Spaniard insisted that Arteta didn't need too much guidance.
In response, Guardiola said: "No, absolutely not. He was already. I know Mikel, they see him, the sporting director Edu & the club, how he works, we saw in the documentary. Rely on him. It's a process."
Arteta's determination is evident. Whether it results in further success at the Emirates remains to be seen. Arsenal fans certainly hope that it will.
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