Graeme Souness has now given a firm verdict on all potential comparisons between Mikel Arteta’s first two seasons at Arsenal and Erik ten Hag’s at Manchester United.
The Gunners head to Old Trafford this Sunday in a crucial game for their Premier League title hopes. Arsenal just have a trip to Manchester United and Everton’s visit to Emirates Stadium left to play. Arteta must also claim wins over the Red Devils and Toffees to stand any chance.
Arteta made Arsenal genuine title challengers for the first time since the 2015/16 term last season. Yet a run of three wins over their final nine games saw Manchester City lift the title with fixtures to spare. But Arsenal bounced back and will take the title race to the final day.
Graeme Souness scoffs at comparisons between Mikel Arteta and Erik ten Hag
A place in Europe next term is all that Manchester United have left to play for in the Premier League. The Red Devils will welcome Arsenal to Old Trafford on a run of two wins from their last 10 games. Their form has also sparked some comparisons between Ten Hag and Arteta.
Ten Hag is closing out his second season in charge of Manchester United with Arsenal’s visit their penultimate home game. But the Red Devils cannot qualify for the Champions League, having lost 13 and won 16 from 35 fixtures. They also have a goal difference of minus three.
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Arsenal also finished Arteta’s first two seasons in charge only eighth in the table in 2019/20 and 2020/21. He replaced Unai Emery in December 2019 and took time to turn the Gunners around. But Souness scoffs at any comparisons between Arteta’s start and Ten Hag’s tenure.
“There are people trying to draw parallels between Arteta’s first two seasons and Erik ten Hag’s but there’s no comparison,” Souness told the Daily Mail.
“Arsenal dropped off last year but have obviously learnt a great deal from their experience, they know they need to win every game. You would not want to be playing them now.”
Mikel Arteta built Arsenal’s identity but Manchester United lack a style
Ten Hag has won five more Premier League games from his first 73 in charge of Manchester United than Arteta won with Arsenal. The Red Devils have even endured two fewer defeats than the Gunners endured in Arteta’s first 73 matches. Both managers have also lifted titles.
Arteta added another FA Cup to Arsenal’s trophy cabinet during his first season in charge of the north London giants. Similarly, Ten Hag led Manchester United to the Carabao Cup in his first season. The Red Devils will also take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final this month.
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But the overriding difference between Arteta’s first two seasons at Arsenal and Ten Hag’s at Manchester United is that the Spaniard was establishing his style. He firmly stuck to his view on how the Gunners should play, no matter if it meant suffering a few knocks along the way.
Reports by The Telegraph even emerged in August 2021 that Arteta had five games to save his job. But Arsenal are now reaping the rewards for sticking with the Spaniard as they fight for the title. Ten Hag, meanwhile, still faces question marks over Manchester United’s style.
Manchester United mainly play in a midblock with their focus on direct, quick attacks under Ten Hag. But their playing style has seldom developed throughout his tenure. Gary Neville even rued their performance in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur for lacking an identity.
“The last time that I saw combinations of play and a series of passes that looked like they belonged to one another was under Louis van Gaal,” Neville told Sky Sports in January.
“What I see here is a collection of single passes where a player receives it and seems to have to work out where the next player is, rather than knowing where the next player is.”