Jose Mourinho's comments on Mikel Arteta three years ago now make for fascinating reading

Jose Mourinho's comments on Mikel Arteta from three years ago have resurfaced and it's fair to say that the Special One got it right.

On 6 December 2020, Mourinho managed Spurs to a 2-0 win over Arsenal in the North London derby.

Deadly double act Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son were on target as Spurs moved 11 points of their rivals.

Arsenal were in 15th position at the time and pressure was mounting on Mikel Arteta.

But Mourinho supported the Spaniard publicly in his post-match interview and was adamant that Arteta was the man to lead the Gunners.

"I want to give a good word to Mikel because he gave us a very difficult game," he told Sky Sports.

"Tactically they are very good. They gave us problems.

"I can imagine tomorrow the headlines will be about them not being in a good position in the table but I believe with these players, with Mikel Arsenal will be Arsenal again."

Arsenal ended up finishing that season in eighth, one point behind a Spurs side who only ended up seventh after petering out.

And it was a similar story a year on as Spurs pipped Arsenal to fourth place by just two points.

Yet Arteta had a vision and a plan and his side were at the top of the table for large spells last season until Manchester City found their form in the crucial end of season period and claimed a third Premier League in a row.

Arsenal still had an excellent season and returned to the Champions League, where they've progressed to the knockout stages with ease this term.

And with a few new additions, notably the £105 million of Declan Rice, Arsenal lead the way at the top after 15 games.

Image: Getty

Rice bagged a 97th minute winner to secure a last-gasp 4-3 victory over Luton Town on Tuesday.

Arsenal had been 3-2 down earlier on in a classic at Kenilworth Road.

Speaking afterwards, Arteta said: "I really enjoyed, especially the end. The incredible thing about football, the emotions and the moments that you live together with a lot of people. It was a special night.

"Credit to Luton for the incredible atmosphere they created, the way they played, the way they were coached, they made life really difficult for us, but we found a win.

"The resilience, the character and quality that the team showed, and how much we wanted it, it was great."

Topics: Jose Mourinho, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Mikel Arteta

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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