Jose Mourinho foresaw that Arsenal would rise to the top of English football under Mikel Arteta – even when the Gunners were struggling in the Premier League standings.
Spurs, then coached by Mourinho, strolled to a two-goal victory over their North London rivals in December 2020 as goals from Son Heung-min and Harry Kane sunk Arteta’s side. That result kept Tottenham top of the pile and put Arsenal, remarkably, as low as 15th.
Understandably, that result heaped pressure on Arteta, who had been Arsenal manager for a year and, despite winning the FA Cup, guided the Gunners to an underwhelming eighth-placed finish in his debut half-season.
