West Ham boss David Moyes is not surprised by what ‘sultry’ Mikel Arteta has done at Arsenal and makes a funny ‘gopher’ claim.
It may come as a surprise to some West Ham and Arsenal supporters – indeed just football fans in general – who Arteta names as his biggest influence.
When asked to name managers who had the biggest impact on him during his career as a player and coach, many might assume the Arsenal boss would default to the great Pep Guardiola.
But Gunners manager Arteta, who rose to prominence in the Premier League under West Ham manager Moyes at Everton, always doffs his cap to the Scot.
“I think he made me a better person, made me mature in the earlier stages of my career,” Arteta once told The Guardian.
“I really liked how he managed the group as well as the individuals. He really installed a real belief around the club to be together all the time, to look after each other, and nobody was more important than the team. He really created a special atmosphere when we were together.”
While Moyes finds himself under pressure as West Ham struggle following two years or rapid progress, Arteta is acieving the reverse at Arsenal.
After an indifferent initial period which saw him widely questioned, the Spaniard has completely rejuvenated the league leaders into one of the most exciting, young, vibrant teams in Europe.
But did the experienced Hammers manager see his former protege going on to become such an excellent manager?
West Ham boss Moyes is not surprised by what ‘sultry’ Arteta has done at Arsenal and has made a funny ‘gopher’ claim.
Speaking in a fan Q and A with Sky Sports, Moyes revealed he always had an inkling Arteta would go on to be a manager.
And when asked to choose one current Prem boss to be stuck on a dessert island with, the West Ham boss went for Arsenal’s main man.
“Errrm, maybe, maybe,” Moyes told Sky Sports when asked if he could see Arteta would go on to be a successful manager when he had him as a player.
“He was a bit sultry as a player you know, but he was a good player, a good football player and he made a huge difference to us.
“Obviously he’s had a brilliant opportunity to work with Pep and have those experiences and work under Arsene Wenger as well. So from that point of view he put himself in a really good position (to learn for management)…
“I can’t think of many I’ve got to say (current Prem managers I would pick to be stuck on a dessert island with). I might pick Mikel Arteta. Because he would have to go and get me things being one of my ex players. You know I would be able to say ‘get me fresh water or get me a pineapple’.
“So being one of my boys he would probably do that so I think he could be my gopher if I was on a dessert island.”
Moyes will be hoping Arteta does not leave him marooned on a dessert island when Arsenal welcome West Ham to the Emirates for the restart on Boxing Day evening.
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