Mikel Arteta has constantly divided opinion since he became the Arsenal manager.
The Spaniard has done a remarkable job at the Emirates, taking a club struggling to get into Europe and transforming them into one of the best sides in the world.
Arteta has broken several records over the years as the Gunners boss, but he is yet to get his hands on the Premier League or the Champions League.
Just for that reason, some people don’t give him the credit he deserves – Andy Goldstein is one of them.
Darren Bent laughs after what Andy Goldstein said about Mikel Arteta and Ruben Amorim
Darren Bent used to play for Tottenham Hotspur, but it is no secret that he is an Arsenal fan.
The former England striker always tries to defend the Gunners, especially when Goldstein tries to annoy him with his comments about his club.
On Friday, the two men on talkSPORT had a debate over Mikel Arteta and Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim.
Bent asked Goldstein, who is a United fan, if he would swap the two managers if he had the opportunity. The latter’s response made Bent burst out laughing.
Here’s how their conversation went…
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
“Go on. Would you swap right now? Arteta for Amorim?” Bent asked Goldstein
“No. No, not in a million years,” Goldstein replied.
“(Bursts out laughing) Why not?” Bent asked.
“Because I don’t think your manager is a winner,” Goldstein said.
“And yours is what? Well, I don’t think yours is a manager.” Bent said.
Who’s better – Mikel Arteta or Ruben Amorim?
Arteta and Amorim are on different levels.
The Manchester United boss led his side to a 15th-place finish in the Premier League last season and ended up losing to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
Even at his worst phase, Arteta was never as bad as Amorim, and he didn’t have the luxury of spending a fortune in his first few transfer windows either.
The problem with Goldstein and many Manchester United fans is that they think their club is the same as it was 15 years ago. The sooner they realise that they are not the same, the quicker they will recover.
Amorim is a good manager and could achieve success at Old Trafford if he is given time. But to imply that Arteta isn’t better than him is laughable.