By Brian Bariyo Tumuramye
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has admitted he did not expect Mikel Arteta to become a manager.
The Arsenal head coach joined the club in December following Unai Emery’s dismissal, after working with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
The Gunners boss has overseen two wins from his first four fixtures in all competitions.
Carragher came up against the former Everton midfielder on multiple occasions in Merseyside derbies and admitted that whilst he doesn’t know the Spaniard outside of their on-the-field duels, he would have been shocked to be told Arteta would be managing a top-six club at the age of 37.
Writing in his column in the Telegraph, Carragher said: “I admit my scepticism when Mikel Arteta was touted for big Premier League jobs over the past few years.
“I did not know Arteta other than as an opponent, but if you had told me during our battles in Merseyside derbies when Arteta was an Everton player that he would be managing Arsenal at the age of 37 I would have thought you were joking. I just did not see it.”
He added “The clamour from Arsenal supporters for Arteta’s return shows they saw something in Arteta the player I missed. In the early days of his reign, it is pleasing to see why so many believed in him. I have been impressed by Arteta’s impact.”
Arteta, of course, captained both Everton and Arsenal during his playing career and has already shown himself to be animated on the touchline during matches from the dugout.
