When Jose Mourinho Predicted Mikel Arteta’s Success at Arsenal in 2020 Amid EPL Run of Form

• Jose Mourinho once predicted Mikel Arteta’s current success at Arsenal
• The Gunners went five points clear at the top after a win vs. Luton Town
• In 2020, a struggling Mikel Arteta retained the faith of 'The Special One'

Jose Mourinho’s comments about Mikel Arteta in 2020 have resurfaced amid Arsenal’s impressive Premier League title charge early in the season.

The Gunners showed their credentials again on Tuesday, December 5 after securing a dramatic 4-3 win over the newly-promoted Luton Town.

It was a compelling encounter as the hosts showed no fear against the current league leaders by twice fighting back to draw the game level.

However, one mark of title contenders is finding a way to get all three points even when it seems impossible, and this is what Arteta’s team did as Declan Rice scored a late winner in the seventh minute of added time.

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As reported by the BBC, it was the sixth win for the Gunners across all competitions and further cemented the Spaniard's managerial credentials in his first stint as a head coach.

Mourinho saw Arteta’s potential

Interestingly, one man who saw Arteta’s potential when no one was paying attention was Jose Mourinho.

When the Portuguese gaffer was Tottenham Hotspur manager in 2020, the Lilywhites beat Arsenal 2-0 in the North London Derby courtesy of goals from Son Heung-min and Harry Kane.

The defeat in November that year left Arsenal languishing in 15th place on the Premier League log, with Spurs temporarily going top of the table.

Speaking after the game, Mourinho praised his side for the win in what he described as 'a big game in every sense', but his comments were primarily centred around Arteta.

He told Sky Sports: "I want to give congratulations to Mikel [Arteta] because he gave us a very difficult game. Tactically, they are very good; they were well organised and gave us problems.

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"They gave us problems because they are a good team and he is a good coach. I know tomorrow the headlines will be about them being in a bad position in the table, but I believe with these players, with Mikel, Arsenal will be Arsenal again."

True to Mourinho's prediction, Arsenal ended the 2020/21 season in eighth place and made some improvements the following campaign by finishing in fifth place.

A look at Arsenal's trophyless run

Sports Brief also looked at Arsenal's Premier League trophy drought as the Gunners have stayed 19 years without glory in that department.

Among other clubs in the top flight, Manchester United last won the EPL a decade ago, while Chelsea is entering its sixth year without glory.