RVP: Arsenal manager Arteta can become truly great - if given time | OneFootball

Robin van Persie thinks former Arsenal teammate Mikel Arteta can become a great manager.

Van Persie played alongside the Spaniard at the Emirates.

And after winning the FA Cup in his first season, Van Persie is expecting more success from his former teammate.

"He was a good player. He was always fit, he connected play, he got his goals. He was good," Van Persie told Stats Perform News.

"As a coach I do think he has the potential to become great. I said that even after watching the first couple of training sessions, or bits of it.

"The way he comes across in the media, the way he makes his team play. It's very promising, very positive.

"He needs time. Sometimes you look at teams or you look at a coach and think 'okay, this coach could have 200 years and it would not happen'.

"When I look at Mikel, I do see change, I see the positive changes and little things happening. How they work together, how they defend together. They are a shorter distance together. Going forward but defensively too. They have got better at defending set-pieces which was always an issue.

"David Luiz is having his best games. He gives confidence to players and most players are picking up on that, doing really well and they really play for Mikel."

**This article was amended on Friday August 14**