Arteta admits ´very intense´ Arsenal spell after reaching 150 games in charge

Mikel Arteta admits his spell in charge of Arsenal has been “very, very intense” after reaching 150 matches in the Gunners’ dugout.

The Spaniard hit the milestone during Sunday’s 1-0 win over Chelsea that sent his side back to the Premier League summit following a brilliant start to the season.

Arteta has now matched the number of appearances he made for the Gunners as a player between 2011 and 2016, during which time he won the FA Cup on two occasions.

Speaking ahead of his side’s EFL Cup showdown with Brighton, the manager reflected as he approaches nearly three years in the role, having replaced Unai Emery at the helm in December 2019.

“A lot has happened in those two different experiences, but this one has been very, very intense,” he said. “The way it started in the middle of the season, and then with two years of Covid, and all the things that we had to go through.

“And now a different phase in the last year or so when football is back to normality, and we start to see more what we want from the team.”

Players, staff, supporters…

All together as one at full-timepic.twitter.com/rEkMEXr4cp

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 8, 2022