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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Daniel Orme

Arsenal flop agrees with Antonio Conte after "masterclass" Mikel Arteta verdict

Arsenal defender Pablo Mari has hailed the Gunners for giving current boss Mikel Arteta the "time" to implement a "masterclass" at the Emirates Stadium.

The Spaniard has regularly come under pressure in north London after taking the reins from compatriot Unai Emery back in 2019. There have been numerous calls in the past for the ex-midfielder to be sacked. The Arsenal hierarchy has regularly stuck by Arteta though and that is a decision that has borne fruit with the Gunners currently sitting top of the Premier League, enjoying a wonderful start to the new season.

Mari, currently out on loan in Serie A with Monza, has praised Arteta for his managerial abilities - both on a team and personal level - while also explaining that the boss was worthy of the time offered to him in north London.

"He is a coach who has changed my vision of football. I have done a two-year masterclass with him," Mari told to AS.

"Yes, of course [I am watching Arsenal], they are at a stratospheric level. For me, the key has been a word called time. It doesn't surprise me because it was clear that their way of working would give them a lot of joy."

Mari is not the first person to praise the Gunners for sticking by Arteta and letting him continue his work at the Emirates Stadium.

Pablo Mari has been full of praise for Mikel Arteta (Getty Images)

What can Arsenal achieve under Mikel Arteta this season? Share your thoughts in the comments below

Spurs boss Antonio Conte previously pointed to the fact that the Spaniard has potentially been afforded more time than others would be - a decision that has proven beneficial for the team and the club as a whole.

Speaking ahead of the north London derby between the two sides earlier this season, a game that the Gunners won 3-1, the Italian said: "I think the club backed Arteta in these years, and you are seeing that when you trust in a person, and Arsenal showed also in a tough period now with Arteta to back him in every moment. And now they are having good results.

"I think they're doing a good job. But in my opinion, it's always very, very important to go together with the manager and with the club.

"If you want to build something important, you have to go together to have a good relationship and I think the manager in every decision that is going to [be made] has to have a good explanation to the club why I want this [player] and not this player."

Arteta currently has just under two-and-a-half years left to run on his contract at the Emirates Stadium having been rewarded with a new deal back in April.

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