De Zerbi: Arteta one of the best coaches in the world

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Albion head to second-placed Arsenal on Sunday.

Matthew Bishop

2023-12-17T07:00:00Z

Albion won 3-0 on their last visit to the Emirates in May.

Roberto De Zerbi has labelled Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta as one of the world’s best ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match at The Emirates.

Since becoming Gunners’ boss in 2019, Arteta has transformed Arsenal into serious title contenders and led them back into the Champions League.

His side currently sit a place and a point off top spot in the Premier League and De Zerbi’s believes the work Arteta has done with Arsenal makes him one of the game’s greats.

“Arteta is a great manager. He is very young and his style is clear.” said the Albion boss. I enjoy watching Arsenal games… I try to learn something when I watch them. He was lucky to work with Pep Guardiola and now I think Arteta is one of the best coaches in the world.”

Arteta could only watch on as his side’s title hopes last season unravelled in front of him when Albion beat the Gunners 3-0 in April.

Albion secured a terrific away win at Arsenal in our last visit to the Emirates.

That win, which saw goals from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan seal all three points for Albion, was also the last time De Zerbi’s team kept a Premier League clean sheet, but the Italian is no longer thinking about his last visit to North London.

“This is a new day, a new game. The score is 0-0. In football, what you did in the past doesn’t count.

“Last season we won 3-0 and I think we deserved that – but the result could have been different because we suffered a lot, especially in the first half.

“Arsenal are improving year on year. Two years ago they were fighting to reach the Champions League, last season they fought to win the league until the final games.

“This season I think they are even better in terms of quality of play and mentality. It will be a very tough game but for us, nothing changes. To make points in the Premier League you have to play at your best or you will lose the game.”