Mikel Arteta has been outstanding in coping with the pressure at Arsenal and shown “courage” in his initial months at the helm, says Brendan Rodgers.
Leicester City play away to Arteta’s Arsenal side in the Premier League today.
They won November’s reverse fixture 2-0 as Unai Emery’s tenure with the Gunners was drawing to a close, with Arteta taking charge the following month.
Arsenal have won four straight games in all competitions ahead of the Leicester clash at the Emirates Stadium, and Foxes boss Rodgers has been impressed.
![[FILE] Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (L) runs with the ball as Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel closes in during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London. (Photo by Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP)](https://www.afriupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/000_97B779-scaled-e1703231851386-120x86.jpg "Liverpool host Arsenal in battle for Premier League Christmas No. 1 1")
![[FILES] Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the English League Cup semi-final first leg football match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on January 13, 2022. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)](https://www.afriupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/000_9W63G7-897x598-1-120x86.jpg "Pochettino advised me not to go into coaching, says Arteta 4")
“I think Mikel has done very, very well since he’s gone in,” said Rodgers, whose team are third in the table.
“He’s gone into a club with huge expectations, which he knows from being a player there. He’s gone in on his first job, into a huge task, and I think how he’s dealt with it so far has been outstanding.
“From a tactical perspective, he’s made it very clear how they want to play. The style, you can see.
“That is not an easy style to put in place and implement, especially at a club that want to be challenging straight away as well.
“His courage since he’s gone in, to want to develop that. They’ve played with a couple of different systems but the style has always remained the same.
“That is something that bodes well for the future and for him.”
Leicester have said James Maddison and Ben Chilwell are major injury doubts for the game, with Chelsea and Manchester United breathing down their necks in the race for a top-four finish.
Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Crystal Palace ended a four-match winless run since the Premier League’s resumption and Rodgers has confidence ahead of the last five games of the campaign.
Asked if his side were capable of finishing the job to secure Champions League football, Rodgers said: “There is absolutely no doubt.
“We’ve shown over 33 games our talent. Okay, we are maybe missing some players that have helped us along that way but as a squad we’re very focused on achieving it.
“We will fight to the very, very last whistle to finish as high as we possibly can.”
Chelsea are one point adrift of Leicester, with a resurgent Manchester United three behind.
Seventh-placed Arsenal have moved to within six points of United and are still hoping to challenge for a European place.
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