According to The Sun, Manchester City’s assistant manager Mikel Arteta has been warned by Rafael Benitez to not to take the Newcastle United job after being linked with a move to Tyneside. And it is believed that the Frenchman did listen to the former Real Madrid boss and has ruled himself out for the job. But, this could turn out to be a huge mistake by the ex-Arsenal star.
Mikel Arteta’s coaching career so far
Arteta has been a part of the Manchester City coaching setup since the arrival of Pep Guardiola in the summer of 2016. The Frenchman joined the club as the assistant manager of the Catalan mastermind. And it’s probably safe to say that the two have played a key role in helping the Citizens maintain an unrivalled dominance in English football.
Manchester City became the first team since Sir Alex Ferguson-led Manchester United to successfully retain their Premier League title when they pipped Liverpool by just one point in the recently concluded 2018/19 campaign.
Although Champions League success has always eluded the Premier League giants under the management of Guardiola and Arteta, they have, without a doubt, shaped a team that is capable of taking on the big guns for years to come.
What can Arteta bring to the table for Newcastle?
Arteta has learned a lot under Guardiola’s wing. So naturally, we can expect for the former Arsenal midfielder to implement the Juego de posicion style of play. A system that concentrates on generating numerical superiority through set patterns of movements. It also focuses on retaining most of the possession and wears the opposition out with relentless attacks. He is also known for his calm and composed character and is unlikely to cause too many off-field issues.
Why Newcastle could have an ideal destination for Arteta
Juego de posicion style of play could be significantly harder to implement on a Newcastle side, who lack the individual quality, especially when compared to the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and even Everton. But, seeing how managers like Daniel Farke and Erik ten Haag have found success by employing the possession-based football, anything is possible.
Furthermore, the Frenchman has a lot of knowledge about the Premier League, which could be useful in terms of the club’s dealings in the transfer market. And given the Magpies’ status as a fan-oriented club, Arteta could have fit in perfectly at St. James’ Park next season, provided Mike Ashley and co. wouldn’t have caused any problems, as Benitez may have warned.
A move to Tyneside would have also allowed the 37-year-old to finally kickstart his managerial career – an opportunity he has been looking for a long time now.
