Sir Jim Ratcliffe told The Business' Podcast: "Look at Arteta at Arsenal, he had a very difficult first years."
It seems that the British billionaire wants to use Arteta's story to rationalize giving Amorim 3 years, just like Arteta's early years at the Emirates. However, this comparison contains many unreasonable points and in reality shows that Amorim is going in the wrong direction with Arteta's model.
Arteta is flexible while Amorim is stubborn
Immediately after his appointment in December 2019, Arteta came up with the idea of building a combined control and attack style of play. It has been clearly affected since his time as assistant to Pep Guardiola. However, he quickly realized that imposing that playing style would immediately expose the team's flaws. In an initial meeting with the players, Arteta even turned all the seats in the meeting room upside down, saying that cassassage reflected the way the current squad operated on the pitch.
Instead of being determined with the desired style, Arteta chose to strengthen the defense as a priority, creating stability first before gradually shaping the playing style. The Spaniard applies a system of 3 central defenders or 5 men when needed, reducing pressure on weak positions and changing tactics flexibly depending on the opponent. Arsenal under Arteta won the FA Cup with a deep strategy of stepping back, taking advantage of opportunities when pressured, not being reckless from the start.
Amorim, on the other hand, has been insists since the start that the 3-4-3 formation is impressive. The Man United captain has said he will not change under any circumstances. While Arteta chose to adapt to meet the players, Amorim forced his students to adapt to him.
Arteta had a hard time at first but not as bad as Amorim
Sir Jim Ratcliffe said Mikel Arteta had a "painful" start but in fact Arteta's results at Arsenal in the early stages were much better than what Amorim was going through at Man United. In the first 8 months, Arteta won the FA Cup and then the Community Shield. Meanwhile, Amorim led M.U last season to finish 15th in the Premier League, their worst finish since 2014.
If comparing the first 50 matches, Arteta won more, conceded fewer goals and had victories against big opponents in the Big Six. Amorim has won fewer games, conceded more goals and won very few in goal games. It is unreasonable for Sir Jim to compare Arteta's past with Amorim's present without refining the context.
Internal training and use of young talent
One of Arteta's significant strengths is his confidence in local and academy players. Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Ainsley Maitland- Ni Niles have been given the opportunity and made great contributions to Arsenal's reform. This contributes to creating identity and cohesion between the coach and the team.
At Man United, the situation is very different. Amorim has had cracks with Marcus Rashford, the symbol of Carrington. Currently, he also has no faith in Kobbie Mainoo. Meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho was sold to Chelsea after a conflict, instead of being oriented internally. A new manager should be judged through the way he builds young players, not eliminating them if they are not suitable. Arteta rarely deported talent and often waited for them to adapt, while Amorim tended to leave early.
Success and approaches
Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to build Man United according to the "Mikel Arteta 2.0" formula, but what Arteta does cannot be applied 100% at Old Trafford. Arsenal in the 2019-2021 period is a platform that needs to be revived, and at the same time has more stable conditions to experiment. Manchester United is currently a team under great media pressure, requiring high achievements.
Arteta has gradually moved from defensive to attacking-controlled. Amorim has fixed his style and forced the team to rotate around him, even though sometimes the personnel have not been able to meet the requirements.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe may have started charity as if to gain the trust of Amorim, but comparing the Portuguese strategist to Arteta is unfounded. Arteta has built Arsenal through many flexible steps, knowing how to adjust and develop young talent. Amorim has chosen to apply early and explore less.
If Man United really want to take Arteta as a model, Amorim must be more flexible and not tied down in a 3-4-3 framework. Otherwise, the comparison between the two will only be a metaphor, not having any visual value for Man United in the coming period.
