Mikel Arteta makes feelings clear on Ange Postecoglou as he shares Arsenal trophy promise

Mikel Arteta comes up against Ange Postecoglou when Arsenal host Nottingham Forest on Saturday – and he says the ex-Tottenham boss demonstrates the pressure of elite management

Mikel Arteta claims he has put himself under just as much pressure as Ange Postecoglou to win a trophy this season. But Arteta also warned that Postecoglou is proof that even delivering silverware is not enough to keep managers in a job.

Gunners boss Arteta faces Postecoglou in his first game in charge of Nottingham Forest on Saturday, less than three months after the Aussie was sacked from Spurs despite lifting the Europa League.

Postecoglou, who has always promised to win trophies by his second season, arrived at the City Ground this week admitting he might have to win in his first year to keep Forest happy. Arteta has not lifted a trophy since the FA Cup in 2020 and is under the spotlight this year after Arsenal spent £300m in the transfer market.

When asked about Postecoglou’s promise and whether he is also under pressure to deliver trophies, Arteta said: “It’s my ambition, the pressure is ambition for sure. Since the day I stepped in this football club.

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“It was very related to the question because the comments that Ange Postecoglou made a few months ago as well. So the context of that conversation was very clear why.” But Arteta made it clear that even winning silverware is not enough to keep all club owners happy – as was proved by Tottenham sacking Postecoglou after he delivered their first trophy in 17 years. Arteta said: “At the end he won and then he didn’t continue at Spurs. So the answer is clear. No, in that particular case, in other cases it’s different.

“For sure, if you don’t win enough football matches you are out in this industry, that’s for sure. How many, that varies from one place to another. As a character, as a person, what he transmits, what he brings to football, it’s a joy to watch the team that always enjoyed it and learn from it. So, yeah, very welcome to having him back.”

The Arsenal fanbase certainly want a trophy this season but, in fairness to Arteta, he has transformed the club since taking over in 2019 and the board remain firmly behind him for the long term.

Postecoglou has famously promised a trophy in his second season at every club, but said he might have to speed up the timeline at Forest. “I won the double with Celtic in my first year. I may have to [win a trophy this season] to have a second year here,” he said in his first press conference. “I’ve said already I want to win trophies and that’s what I’ve done my whole career and that’s what I want to do here.”

Asked if he wanted to prove doubters wrong, Postecoglou said: “I don’t see it as a point to prove. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. I do like my teams to play exciting football and score goals and get fans excited. I make no apologies about that, that’s just the way I am.”

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