‘Arteta is going to be one of the best coaches in the world’ – David Luiz tips Arsenal boss for the top

The Brazilian defender has worked with some high-profile managers in his time and believes the Gunners have landed themselves plenty of potential

Mikel Arteta has the full support of David Luiz, with the Brazilian defender saying Arsenal’s new boss “is going to be one of the best coaches in the world”.

The Gunners have turned to a familiar face for inspiration, with a former club captain back at the Emirates Stadium in a first managerial role.

He has been offered an early indication as to the size of the job he has taken on, with just one point taken from his opening two games.

Arteta did, however, get a good grounding working alongside Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and is expected to become a top manager in his own right.

Luiz, who has played under the likes of Jose Mourinho, Laurent Blanc and Antonio Conte in the past, told Sky Sports after seeing Arsenal suffer a 2-1 derby defeat to Chelsea: “For me, Arteta is going to be one of the best coaches in the world.

“I have had the opportunity to have many coaches during my career.

“He is intelligent, he was a player, he is clever. I think he’s going to be one of the best, but it’s part of our job to help him do that, especially in the beginning because everybody doubts.

“But I really trust in this philosophy, I really trust in the way he sees football. That’s why we could see Arsenal dominate the first half with amazing football, with a lot of quality.

“I think if we scored the second goal, it would have been a different game.”

Arteta is expected to put his own stamp on a squad inherited from Unai Emery, with Luiz among those to have already seen signs of encouragement.

He added: “He knows football. When you know football, it is much easier to explain. It’s much easier to try to help and it’s much easier to understand the heads of the players on the pitch.

“It’s not an easy job for him, especially coming in the middle of the season.

“He didn’t choose the players or anything, but he’s going to try to do his best and we as players have to try to do our best too because this club deserves to shine. It deserves to play amazing football like in the first half.

“We are not in the best position in the table. It has not been a very good year for us. But there is still the possibility to improve, to learn, and to do what we did in the first half.

“I think everybody saw a team with personality, with ideas, with a connection with the fans, with top players.

“I think Mikel is trying to impose his philosophy as soon as possible.

“We have a lot of players with talent and a lot of players who are going to be top players in the future. They are trying to learn quickly.

“Then it is up to us to try to get some points and results because we need that.”

Arsenal, who have slumped to 12th in the Premier League table, will be back in action on New Year’s Day at home to Manchester United.