Graham Potter, reportedly appealed to Arsenal Manager, Mikel Arteta, prior to the latter's sacking by Chelsea, describing the situation as a "disaster".
Graham Potter's brief stint as Chelsea manager has come to a swift end, with the club dismissing him less than seven months after his appointment. The decision followed the team's 2-0 loss to Aston Villa on Saturday, which saw them drop to the bottom half of the Premier League table. Potter's comments about Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta have resurfaced in the aftermath of his dismissal, as he made a desperate plea for support before being let go.
Potter, who previously managed Brighton, had expressed admiration for Arteta's leadership style and resilience in the face of criticism. In February, after Chelsea's 2-0 defeat to Tottenham, he drew parallels between his own situation and that of the Arsenal boss. "We were talking before the game about watching All or Nothing and Arsenal, two years into Mikel's reign he's close to getting the sack and people are wanting him out and it's a disaster. And now things have changed a little bit - and that's just the way it is," Potter said.
The reference to All or Nothing was a nod to the Amazon Prime documentary series that followed Arsenal during the 2019-20 season, Arteta's first in charge. The series captured the team's struggles and setbacks as they tried to rebuild under the new manager, including a poor run of form that saw them finish eighth in the Premier League and miss out on Champions League qualification.
Potter's comments suggest that he saw Arteta's experience as a cautionary tale for his own tenure at Chelsea, which had been rocky from the start. The team had shown flashes of promise, but inconsistent results and a lack of cohesion on the pitch had left fans frustrated. Potter's comments also highlight the pressure that managers face in the Premier League, where even a few bad results can lead to calls for their dismissal.
The comparison between Arteta and Potter is not unfounded, as both managers have faced scrutiny and doubt about their abilities. Arteta, however, has managed to turn things around this season, leading Arsenal to the top of the Premier League table with a comfortable lead over second-place Manchester City. Meanwhile, Potter's dismissal indicates that Chelsea's hierarchy is focused on short-term success and immediate results, rather than a long-term rebuild.
Potter's departure from Chelsea comes as no surprise, given the team's lackluster performances under his leadership. His comments about Arteta, however, serve as a reminder of the challenges and pressures that managers face in the cutthroat world of Premier League football. The league is known for its demanding fans, aggressive media, and intense competition, and managers are expected to deliver results quickly and consistently.
Arteta's success this season is a testament to his resilience and ability to learn from his mistakes. His experience with Arsenal shows that patience and perseverance can pay off in the long run, even in the face of adversity. For Potter and other managers facing similar challenges, Arteta's example may provide a source of inspiration and hope.
Reviewed by Eclectic Streams
on
April 03, 2023
Rating:
