Although Arsenal sit top of the Premier League and three points clear of their closest challengers, Mikel Arteta has been ranked outside of the top 10 best managers in the world by one pundit.
The numbers behind Arsenal's early dominance
Many have been quick to criticise how Arsenal have reached top spot in the Premier League, but the numbers don’t lie. Whilst champions Liverpool saw their crown slip for a fourth game on the bounce against Manchester United, the Gunners enjoyed the control that Arne Slot has been desperate to grasp all season long.
Arteta’s side never looked in doubt against Fulham – an opponent they’ve struggled against in the past – and the numbers tell the story of a team finally ready to take their turn at the top.
As highlighted by statistician Scott Willis, Arsenal have never conceded such low-quality chances than so far this season. They have suffocated opposition attacks and have conceded just three goals in eight games.
Meanwhile, they’ve not exactly been disappointing going in the other direction. In fact, only three sides have recorded more expected goals than the Gunners in the Premier League this season. Arteta’s side have an XG of 15.73 and have matched that with 15 Premier League goals.
It is all coming together in North London just when Liverpool are beginning to slip and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City continue to have their own defensive fragilities at times. Yet, for all their good work, it’s not enough for one Sky Sports pundit to rank Arteta in his top 10 of current managers.
Arteta doesn't make O'Hara's top 10 managers
Speaking to Sky Sports, former Tottenham Hotspur man Jamie O’Hara said that Arteta is not a top 10 manager in world football, claiming that the likes of Oliver Glasner are better.
“What are you on about? Arteta’s won nothing. He’s won the FA Cup when he first got there, but what’s he won recently with the team that is meant to win stuff?
“This team is ready to win the Premier League, they wanna try and win trophies. Arteta’s a really good manager and credit to him, but let’s not start putting him in the brackets of Pep Guardiolas. Glasner’s a better manager, in my opinion.”
In a brutal verdict, O’Hara also went onto name Xabi Alonso, Vincent Kompany, Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti when speaking about managers he believes are better than Arteta.
However, he did also claim that the Arsenal boss is likely to be in that bracket one day, but is still getting there. Whether that verdict changes by the time that May arrives will be interesting to see.
Whilst the likes of Alonso and Kompany have impressed in recent years and have earned their place among the best, Arteta’s complete Arsenal transformation should end any doubters who share O’Hara’s current opinion.