David Moyes makes ‘proved them wrong’ claim ahead of West Ham United clash vs Arsenal
West Ham boss David Moyes is glad to have seen Mikel Arteta prove his doubters wrong with his work as Arsenal manager.
The Gunners finished second to Manchester City in the Premier League last season and are in that same position after 18 games of this season.
Arsenal can overtake Liverpool at the top should they win their game in hand on Thursday (28 December), but West Ham will have other ideas.
Speaking ahead of the trip to Emirates Stadium, as per the club’s official website [27 December], Moyes said: “I’ve been so impressed with Mikel Arteta since he went into Arsenal.
“He won the FA Cup and the Community Shield, and there was some down comments but he hasn’t half proved them wrong. I think most Arsenal supporters will be very happy with Mikel.”
“Mikel was always someone who had a deeper thought, was always thinking about football and always looking to prepare himself well.”
Contrasting futures
Moyes worked with Arteta while in charge of Everton, so the mutual respect between the pair is well known.
In fairness, Arteta has indeed done a good job at Arsenal after a pretty tricky start that led to many calling for his head.
The Spaniard is now surely close to the bottom of the list in terms of the next Premier League managers to lose their job.
Moyes will be at the opposite end of that list, but that is only because of his contract situation at London Stadium.
Questions continue to be asked over whether the 60-year-old will stay on beyond the end of this season, at which point his contract is due to expire.
Moyes will know that the best way to earn a new deal, if he does indeed want one, is to finish as high up the Premier League as possible.
Victory in North London would see the Irons climb back into sixth place, which the vast majority of supporters would have taken this season.
Here is to another famous London derby victory!
In other West Ham news, a journalist says a Hammers player is now more likely to leave London Stadium in 2024 after what has happened.