Mikel Arteta is the Arsenal manager and a former Gunners captain whose connection with the club now spans both his playing and coaching careers. After returning to north London as head coach in December 2019, he led Arsenal through a long rebuild and eventually guided the club to the 2025/26 Premier League title.
Mikel Arteta has developed from a midfielder shaped by Spanish and British football into one of the Premier League’s most established managers. He played for clubs including Paris Saint-Germain, Rangers, Real Sociedad, Everton and Arsenal before retiring in 2016 and beginning his coaching career alongside Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. He later returned to Arsenal for his first senior managerial job, winning the FA Cup in his first season and building a team that became Premier League champions. This profile covers his playing career, coaching journey, honours, tactics and role at Arsenal.
Who Is Mikel Arteta?
Mikel Arteta is a Spanish football manager and former midfielder best known for his long association with Arsenal. He first joined the club as a player in 2011, later became captain, retired in 2016 and returned as head coach in December 2019.
His managerial career is closely linked to Arsenal’s transition from a side outside the Premier League title race to champions in 2025/26. Along the way, Arteta won the FA Cup, multiple Community Shields and the Barclays Manager of the Season award.
READ ALSO: Arsenal FC: fixtures, results, standings, squad and latest news
Mikel Arteta’s Playing Career
Arteta came through Barcelona’s youth system before continuing his development away from Spain. His senior career included spells with Paris Saint-Germain, Rangers and Real Sociedad before he established himself in English football with Everton.
Everton
Arteta joined Everton in 2005 and became an important part of the club’s midfield. His time at Goodison Park helped establish him as a technically strong Premier League player who could control possession, take set pieces and contribute goals and assists from midfield.
Arsenal
Arsenal signed Arteta from Everton in 2011. He became a senior figure in Arsene Wenger’s squad and was later named club captain. Arteta won the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2014 and 2015 before retiring from professional football in 2016.
His playing years at Arsenal are important to his later managerial story because he experienced the club from inside the dressing room before returning with responsibility for rebuilding the first team.
From Manchester City Assistant to Arsenal Manager
After retiring, Arteta moved directly into coaching. In July 2016 he joined Pep Guardiola’s staff at Manchester City, where he worked for three and a half years and was involved in a period of sustained domestic success.
Manchester City described Arteta as an important contributor to the team’s preparation and work on the training ground. The role gave him experience inside a title-winning coaching staff before he accepted the Arsenal job in December 2019.
Which teams has Mikel Arteta coached?
Arteta’s first coaching role was at Manchester City, where he worked as an assistant under Guardiola. Arsenal is his first club as a senior head coach and manager. He was appointed in December 2019 and has remained in charge through the club’s rebuild and return to the top of English football.
READ ALSO: Premier League: fixtures, standings, lineups, live and news
Mikel Arteta’s First Years as Arsenal Manager
Arteta took over Arsenal during the 2019/20 season and won silverware within months. Arsenal defeated Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final before beating Chelsea 2-1 in the final, giving Arteta his first major trophy as a manager.
The following seasons involved significant changes to the squad, leadership group and playing style. Arsenal placed greater emphasis on younger players, technical quality, physical intensity and a stronger connection between the team and supporters.
Progress was not immediate. The rebuild included difficult league campaigns as well as the development of a younger core that eventually returned Arsenal to regular Champions League football and repeated Premier League title challenges.
How Arteta Led Arsenal to the Premier League Title
Arsenal finished second in the Premier League for three consecutive seasons before finally winning the title in 2025/26. The championship ended a 22-year wait for another league title and made Arteta the first Arsenal manager since Arsene Wenger to win the Premier League.
The title-winning side combined a strong defensive record with greater control of matches and major value from set pieces. Arsenal finished the season with 85 points and secured the championship before the final day, ending Manchester City’s challenge for the title.
Arteta was named Barclays Manager of the Season for 2025/26. He also became the first manager to win the Premier League with a club he had previously represented as a player in the competition.
Arsenal in Europe Under Mikel Arteta
Arteta also moved Arsenal closer to the biggest prize in European club football. In 2025/26, Arsenal reached the UEFA Champions League final for the first time since 2006.
The final against Paris Saint-Germain finished 1-1 after extra time before PSG won the penalty shootout 4-3. Arsenal did not lift the trophy, but reaching the final marked another major step in the club’s development under Arteta.
Mikel Arteta Trophies and Honours at Arsenal
Arteta’s honours at Arsenal include trophies won during both his playing and managerial careers. As a player, he lifted two FA Cups with the club. As manager, his Arsenal honours include:
• FA Cup: 2019/20
• FA Community Shield: 2020
• FA Community Shield: 2023
• Premier League: 2025/26
• FA Community Shield: 2026
He was also named Barclays Manager of the Season after Arsenal won the 2025/26 Premier League title.
Mikel Arteta’s Tactics and Playing Style
Arteta’s Arsenal teams are built around control with and without the ball. The exact system changes depending on the players available and the opposition, but several principles have remained important throughout his time in charge.
Structured build-up
Arsenal often try to progress the ball through organised positions rather than relying only on direct play. Defenders and midfielders are expected to create passing angles, move opponents and help the team advance while maintaining enough balance to protect against counter-attacks.
Pressing and defensive control
Without the ball, Arteta’s teams place a strong emphasis on compact positioning and coordinated pressure. Arsenal’s title-winning 2025/26 side was especially difficult to create chances against and finished the league season with one of the strongest defensive records in Europe.
Positional flexibility
Arteta frequently asks players to operate in different spaces depending on the phase of the match. Full-backs can move inside, midfielders can rotate between deeper and more advanced roles, and attacking players are expected to contribute when Arsenal press.
Set pieces
Set pieces have also become an important part of Arsenal’s attacking threat. During the 2025/26 title season, Arsenal scored heavily from dead-ball situations, including a Premier League-record number of goals from corners.
How Mikel Arteta Changed Arsenal
Arteta’s influence at Arsenal has extended beyond tactics. One of the central themes of his tenure has been raising standards across the squad and rebuilding the relationship between the team and supporters.
Arsenal progressively reshaped the squad around players suited to the manager’s technical and physical demands. Leadership, discipline, training intensity and collective responsibility became recurring themes as the club moved from rebuilding to challenging for major trophies.
That process eventually produced a Premier League title, repeated Champions League qualification and a run to the 2026 Champions League final.
Following Mikel Arteta and Arsenal
Arteta remains closely tied to Arsenal’s Premier League and European campaigns. For current Arsenal fixtures, results, standings and squad information, use our Arsenal FC hub. For live scores and confirmed match information, follow SP Score.
You can also view current Premier League matches and markets on SportPesa, or browse wider SportPesa Football coverage.
READ ALSO: Premier League Predictions: how to analyse EPL matches
Mikel Arteta FAQs
Who is Mikel Arteta?
Mikel Arteta is a Spanish football manager and former midfielder. He is the Arsenal manager and previously played for the club from 2011 until his retirement in 2016.
When did Mikel Arteta become Arsenal manager?
Arsenal appointed Arteta in December 2019 after he left his role as an assistant coach at Manchester City.
Did Mikel Arteta play for Arsenal?
Yes. Arteta joined Arsenal from Everton in 2011, later became club captain and won the FA Cup in 2014 and 2015.
Which teams has Mikel Arteta coached?
Arteta worked as an assistant coach at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola before taking his first senior managerial job at Arsenal in December 2019.
Has Mikel Arteta won the Premier League?
Yes. Arteta led Arsenal to the 2025/26 Premier League title, ending the club’s 22-year wait for another league championship.
What trophies has Mikel Arteta won as Arsenal manager?
His Arsenal managerial honours include the 2019/20 FA Cup, Community Shields in 2020, 2023 and 2026, and the 2025/26 Premier League title.
Has Mikel Arteta won the Champions League?
Not as Arsenal manager. Arsenal reached the 2026 Champions League final under Arteta but lost to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
What is Mikel Arteta’s playing style as a manager?
His Arsenal teams generally emphasise structured possession, coordinated pressing, defensive control, positional flexibility and strong set-piece execution.
Conclusion
Mikel Arteta has gone from Arsenal captain to the manager who returned the club to the top of English football. His journey includes a playing career across Spain, France, Scotland and England, three and a half years on Manchester City’s coaching staff, an FA Cup in his first season as Arsenal boss and the 2025/26 Premier League title. His Arsenal teams have become known for structured football, strong defensive organisation, pressing and set-piece quality. Follow the Arsenal FC hub for current fixtures, results, standings, squad updates and major club news.
