Theo Walcott has given ‘credit’ to Mikel Arteta after comparisons between Arsenal and Manchester City this season.
The Gunners have been one of Pep Guardiola’s main title rivals this year after going toe-to-toe with the Manchester giants last season for the Premier League, a battle Arsenal ultimately lost despite leading the table for most of the campaign.
With the north London side currently two points off City, Arsenal are still firmly in the title race despite how predictable it now looks like the reigning English champions will win their remaining league games.
Yet Walcott believes Arteta deserves praise for what he is managing to do with Arsenal.
Walcott lauds Arteta for getting Arsenal to compete with Manchester City
Speaking on Football Daily, former winger Walcott has said Arteta deserves ‘credit’ for transforming Arsenal into a fallen giant into a team that is now competing with City on a regular basis in the Premier League.
Whilst there’s a good chance that Arsenal will again end the season empty-handed, the north London side are again on the right path to success with Arteta, with silverware seemingly certain in the years to come.
And Walcott has now said that Arteta deserves his flowers for everything the Basque coach has done in the last four years, with Arsenal now back to their best under the former club captain.
Walcott said: “Arsenal are at a stage now where we’re talking about them being at the same level as Man City, which is credit to Mikel for what he’s done to that football club and where they were and where they are now and how highly we rate how consistent they’ve been.”
Arsenal fans will want silverware in the next 12 months
Silverware is possible this season for Arsenal despite the challenges that lay ahead of them, which is why most fans think next year could be when the north London side finally get their hands on a trophy once again.
It’s been four years since Arsenal’s record-breaking 14th FA Cup triumph in what was Arteta’s first piece of silverware as manager of the Gunners, and although many steps have been made in getting the north London side back to the top, fans are starting to grow weary.
Indeed, silverware is the clearest sign of success for any football team, and Arsenal need to start translating their progress under Arteta into something tangible, such as a title or cup win.