Arsenal have been brilliant this season and their efforts have led to an eight-point lead at the top of the table with ten games remaining. Their manager, Mikel Arteta, has risen above the rest and cultivated a group of motivated players all working in unison to achieve the same goal.
Very few things have caused slip-ups but the few that have are strangely after some of the most successful periods. Next up for the Gunners is Leeds United in the first game of April.
March was another very successful month for the Gunners and the four wins over Everton, Bournemouth, Fulham and Crystal Palace have led to Mikel Arteta being nominated for yet another manager of the month award. He sits alongside Unai Emery of Aston Villa (P3 W2 D1) Roberto De Zerbi of Brighton (P3 W2 D1) and title rival Pep Guardiola (P2 W2).
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Arsenal’s goal difference for the month was 11+, six greater than Brighton, seven more than Villa and eight more than City. The Spaniard is indeed in with a great chance of winning the accolade once again and ‘star boy’ Bukayo Saka, who was nominated for the Player of the Month, could also pick up another individual award.
However, Saturday’s opponents Leeds United might in fact want Arteta to win. This might seem odd, but those superstitious amongst the fan base might be sitting uneasily if the Gunners boss picks up the award.
In the first game of the month after Mikel Arteta won the award for Manager of the Month for the previous month Arsenal have failed to win. Arteta has won it on five previous occasions during his time at the club which began the following month off in less than perfect fashion.
After winning the September award in 2021, Arsenal drew 0-0 with Brighton. He won it for the second time in March of 2022 and at the start of April Arsenal lost 3-0 to Crystal Palace.
This season, he’s won it three times. For August he oversaw the 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford at the start of September, after winning the November/December award, the Gunners drew 0-0 with Newcastle and after winning the January award Sean Dyche’s Everton bested Arteta and company at Goodison Park at the start of February.
That said, Arsenal under Mikel Arteta have a great knack of bringing frustrating records to an end. Their win over Palace before the international break was the first at home since 2018.
He won at Old Trafford in the league for the first time since 2006 a couple of seasons ago and this past January won in the league at Tottenham Hotspur for the first time since 2014. Records are made to be broken and with Javi Gracia bringing his Leeds side to the Emirates north London will hope another will crumble.
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