What Roberto De Zerbi's Tottenham appointment means for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta

Roberto De Zerbi has taken over at Tottenham, and football.london delves into what it means for Arsenal

Roberto De Zerbi will take on the job at Tottenham Hotspur, leaving Arsenal fans with their fourth different rival head coach in the space of a year. From Ange Postecoglou, to Thomas Frank, to a short stint of Igor Tudor, whose first match was overseeing a 4-1 defeat in the North London derby, to the former Brighton and Marseille boss.

It's understood they have offered huge money and a long five-year contract to convince him to commit to the project. With a relegation battle in full swing and a real possibility of Championship football next season, so much remains up in the air.

For Arsenal, they have loftier ambitions but will keep a firm eye on what is going on just down the road. With that in mind, football.london takes a look at the potential impacts on the Gunners.

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Head-to-head

While Arteta might not face De Zerbi for the rest of this season, should Spurs manage to stay up, or were they to meet in any cup competition, the pair will reunite. The Italian managed to score a win over the Spaniard in their first meeting in 2022 when Brighton knocked Arsenal out of the League Cup with a 3-1 win at the Emirates.

Arsenal would get its revenge in the league on New Year’s Eve of the same year, winning 4-2 at the Amex Stadium. Yet, in what is his most recent win over Arteta, the 3-0 win at the Emirates all but ended the Gunners’ title hopes when May came around.

In the 2023/24 season, Arteta won both home and away, 2-0 and 3-0 respectively, against De Zerbi’s Brighton. The Spaniard edging the record between the two, 3-2.

Respect is there

The interesting dynamic that Arteta has huge appreciation for the Italian. In fact, with Ethan Nwaneri joining Marseille on loan while De Zerbi was there, Arteta revealed that his presence was a key reason behind the decision to choose OM.

"After having a discussion with him, with his father, the agent and the club, we decided that the best thing to do was to leave and go on loan,” he said.

"Then we have to pick the right place, and having all the options, understand the experience that we had in Marseille as well with (William Saliba), the fact that Roberto is there and he’s an incredible developer of young talent and he’s a really courageous manager in the way he plays, the way he plays with young talent as well and he has a big track record about that.

"I think it fits the way of playing for the qualities that we want to see for Ethan. So it’s going to be a great experience for him."

De Zerbi sadly left soon after, and Nwaneri’s loan has been a challenge. But what we learn is that, clearly, Arteta will have immense respect for Spurs’ potential new boss.