Mikel Arteta may be facing plenty of opposition from Arsenal fans but he can at least count on one supporter in the leader of the opposition.
Speaking on talkSPORT about his beloved Gunners, Sir Keir Starmer backed Arteta to turn the club’s fortunes around – given time.
Arsenal languish in ninth after a 1-0 defeat at home to Everton on Friday night, and all hopes rest on their Europa League campaign.
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However, Starmer said the nucleus of a good team were taking shape at the Emirates and likened the process of building a football team to his role in reshaping the Labour party.
“I think any manager coming in, or leader of a political party for that matter, you need time to sort your team out.
“Arteta is building a brilliant team around the young players. (Emile) Smith Rowe, (Bukayo) Saka, (Gabriel) Martinelli. Give him time to build that team – that’s my rule of leadership and management.
“Give him time to sort the team out and turn the fortunes around. I think Arteta will do that, not withstanding last night.
“Players like Saka are really exceptional.”
Despite Arsenal‘s involvement in the failed Super League, Starmer had nothing but disdain for the entire project.
However, he hopes the sense of outrage which accompanied it will help inspire real change in the game.
He said: “The proposal for the breakaway was just completely wrong and I’m really glad it came up against a wall of opposition from fans up and down the country. From fans that were involved and every other club.
“Completely and utterly wrong, it would’ve completely destroyed football and I’m really glad it would’ve been knocked on the head.
“What we can’t do is now lose the opportunity. There’s been momentum and energy behind this, we need to use that to change football. The ownership – we need an independent regulator.
“The government has promised a review, that’s a good thing, but we need it to be fans led and I’m a bit worried at the government’s reference that they’re ‘expecting’ to engage with fans. Well, that’s not good enough. We need to engage with fans.”
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