The manager of Arsenal is appreciative of his family’s support during his extraordinary first full season in charge.

In recognition of their support throughout his extraordinary first full season as Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has paid tribute to his family.

After taking over as head coach in December 2019, the Gunners manager succeeded Unai Emery, and at the end of the campaign, they won the FA Cup.

Since then, Arteta has had to deal with the coronavirus pandemic and a changed fixture schedule. He has shared how his family has supported him during his challenging work moments.

“I’m very lucky because I could not ask for anything else, starting from my wife,” he said.

“She understands every situation, all the time the support, the love, the energy that they’re able to create at the house after a win, after a loss is a completely different feeling.

“I always find the same environment. I have three boys and two dogs. The energy and love they give me, you cannot describe that. They need from me now that I give them something back now. In the summer I cannot wait to have them jumping all over me.

“My bubble are my three kids and my wife. When I’m into that bubble is when my system goes down and I get emotions that I need all the time.

“I do that every morning with them. I never leave my door without seeing them. That’s the way I start my day – when I do that my day always starts good and then you start to face every single thing that comes along the way.

With life gradually getting back to some sort of normality in England, Arteta says he cannot wait to be reunited with family members that he hasn’t seen in over a year since the pandemic began.

“I haven’t seen my mum, my dad, my sister which I adore in over a year now. I really need them, the same with my friends. I need to smile, laugh and enjoy – all those things.

“At the same time you have to reflect on what you’ve done, be very critical on yourself and how can you do better next season.”

Arsenal