Arteta says Arsenal 'ahead' on step three of his five-step plan | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has said Arsenal are ahead of his own personal timeline in competing for the Premier League title.

In an interview with ESPN, who say Arteta presented the Kroenkes with a five-phase plan when he was awarded the Arsenal job, the Spaniard admits things are ahead of schedule.

“Phase three,” Arteta says Arsenal are now in, but that doesn’t mean phase three pinpoints the title race, “phase three is a period of time and we’re a little bit ahead of schedule.”

So … what were phases one and two, exactly?

“It’s something a little bit private,” he said. “It’s just my understanding and vision of what the club was, and what we have to capture and develop.

“I like to do it looking forward first and then you have to do it backwards. It just my idea of the club and the decisions we have to take to move it forward. Obviously you need a team, all together thinking the same way and in the same direction and we’re lucky to have that at the club.”

Arteta admitted he is “probably lucky” to be where he is, given how things at Arsenal started out – bar the 2020 FA Cup win – and is making the most of every day in charge.

“I have always been fascinated with the journey and living every single day like it is the last and I think you have to take this job especially like this because every day there are lessons, there are challenges.

“But as well there are great opportunities. I like to think as well outside of the box and learn straight away from that and just try to be the best possible manager for Arsenal and what Arsenal needs today from me to make them better. In one month, it will be different and in two years’ time maybe they need something else but it is about today.”

And completing all five phases would mean creating something of an Arsenal era, akin to Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp at Manchester City and Liverpool respectively, Arteta was typically coy.

“If I’m in that position, it would mean we’ve done a lot of great things.

“But I take it daily. It’s the only thing you can do when you’re a manager. There are so many decisions, so many things that happen throughout the day that you have to be focussed on that. And not get too lost. The bigger picture is clear. I know what I would like to do and what I would like the club to be in certain months but we have to impact today’s decisions in the best way to be where we want to be.”

Where Arsenal and Arteta are right now is top of the league, five points clear of Manchester City. And still just in phase three.