Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admitted that he has studied top global managers like Jose Mourinho extensively as he looks to make his own mark on the game from the coaching side.
After the emotional 2-2 draw with Man City in a critical early-season Premier League battle, Mourinho was asked extensively about how the Gunners approached the match amidst accusations of time-wasting tactics and other "dark arts" deployed to keep their opponents from getting in rhythm.
Mourinho has been known for his use of adverse tactics throughout his career, famous for his propensity to "park the bus" or use other borderline tactics to grind matches down.
MORE: All the latest Arsenal news | Premier League schedule for 2024/25 | Latest Premier League top scorer rankings
When asked if Arteta took any influence from studying Mourinho, the Arsenal boss was open and honest about his study of not just the "Special One" but of all top managers while learning to coach himself.
"More than influence," Arteta said at his pre-match press conference ahead of their match against Bolton in the Carabao Cup, just days after the Man City draw. "I think you learn a lot from other top coaches and you just try to understand why they have been successful, what really touches that team that makes it really special and very consistent - especially to win at this level.
"At this level, and with the amount of games we are playing, you might have an idea, you think the game can go in that direction, but if goes in a different direction, do you have the ability to adapt and be happy now playing that game? Because that is the level we are in."
Arteta learned to coach as an assistant under Pep Guardiola at City, joining in 2016 after retiring as a player and spending three years there before being hired by Arsenal as manager.
Since becoming Gunners boss, Arteta has already joined Mourinho in one illustrious category, becoming the 11th manager in Premier League history to win his first five games in a Premier League season, a group of which the Portuguese coach is a member.
