Insight from Pablo Mari about Mikel Arteta’s coaching style would appear to suggest that Arsenal have a crucial advantage over Manchester United and West Ham in the race for the top four.
The Gunners are battling with the Red Devils and the Hammers for a lucrative Champions League qualification place for next season, with fierce rivals Tottenham also still in the hunt.
The quartet are all within five points of each other, with United currently leading the way in the Premier League table, despite their mixed performances since Ralf Rangnick took interim charge.
But Rangnick’s side have played three games more than Arsenal, with Arteta’s men able to move above them if they win and United lose this coming weekend.
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Arsenal have 14 matches remaining in which to overtake their rivals for a top four spot, as they look to return to Europe’s premier club competition for the first time since the 2016/2017 season.
And Mari has hinted that Arteta’s position as manager will give them a key advantage as the business end of the season approaches.
The centre-back was one of Arteta’s first signings after he took over from Unai Emery, though he is currently on loan at Serie A side Udinese.
Despite his chances under Arteta being few and far between, Mari has insisted that the Spaniard is one of the world’s top coaches.
“I have to say he is one of the best coaches in the world because when he does the game plan ... I never see it like this,” Mari told ESPN.
“How he finds solutions for us and makes it easy to play the game: I've never seen something like this. That means he is an amazing coach.
“To give you the tools to play a game more easily, that's amazing because when you go to the pitch, you already have in your head the type of thing you have to do to play easy.
“He gave me the tool that if I can take three or four seconds before the ball arrives to me, I am going to have this three or four seconds to think for the next action.
“For me, this was the key because I have time [now]. He was the only coach to give me that tool and make football more easy.”
Mari’s insight of Arteta’s style of management certainly suggest the Gunners have somewhat of a headstart on their top four rivals.
By comparison to Mari placing Arteta among the world’s best coaches, Arsenal’s rivals would struggle to match that.
Though he has been hailed as the influence for the likes of Jurgen Klopp, Rangnick would definitely not be placed among the top bosses and he has struggled somewhat at United.
David Moyes may have transformed West Ham into surprise contenders, but he would also struggle to be counted at the top of the manager rankings.
With Arsenal also having games in hand, Mari’s comments mean that the Gunners should be seen as the frontrunners for the top four.
