By the numbers... Arteta establishes himself among the top Premier League managers

Spanish coach Mikel Arteta reached a new milestone in his career with Arsenal, completing 250 Premier League matches with the London club. This makes him one of only ten managers to reach this number with a single club in the competition's history. The achievement is not solely about the number itself; reaching this milestone allows Arteta to directly compare his time with the Gunners to names that have shaped Premier League history, from Arsène Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson to José Mourinho, Jürgen Klopp, and Pep Guardiola. When Arteta took over at Arsenal in December 2019, succeeding Unai Emery, the team was not at its best, and the start didn't give the Spanish coach much cause for optimism, as they finished his first two seasons in charge in eighth place. But the club's management chose to continue with Arteta's project rather than enter a cycle of managerial changes. Over time, the signs of transformation began to appear, until Arsenal became a consistent contender for the top spot, finishing second in the league for three consecutive seasons, before Arteta achieved his greatest feat by winning the Premier League title in the 2025-2026 season. After 250 matches, Arteta's record stands in direct competition with some of the greatest managers in the competition. He achieved 151 victories, 48 ​​draws, and 51 defeats, accumulating 501 points, averaging 2.004 points per game, with a win percentage of 60.4%. During this period, the Gunners scored 471 goals while conceding 241, resulting in an average of 1.88 goals per game compared to 0.96 goals conceded. However, Arteta doesn't occupy the pinnacle of this comparison; one manager stands far ahead of them all: Pep Guardiola. The Spanish coach secured 184 wins in his first 250 matches with Manchester City, along with 32 draws and 34 losses, accumulating 584 points at an average of 2.33 points per game and a win percentage of 73.6%. Guardiola's achievements extend beyond results; his teams scored 621 goals during this period while conceding only 204, averaging 2.48 goals per game compared to just 0.81 goals conceded by City. He also led Manchester City to four Premier League titles in his first six seasons. Meanwhile, Jürgen Klopp boasts 160 wins with Liverpool in his first 250 Premier League matches, alongside 56 draws and 34 losses, amassing 536 points at an average of 2.14 points per game. His team scored 536 goals and conceded 237. José Mourinho, on the other hand, achieved 158 wins, 59 draws, and 33 losses in his first 250 matches, accumulating 533 points at an average of 2.13 points per game, with a win percentage of 63.2%. Mourinho's statistics reveal a remarkable defensive strength, as his teams conceded only 181 goals compared to 431 goals scored, resulting in an average of 0.72 goals conceded per game – the best among the managers included in the comparison. Sir Alex Ferguson is very close to Arteta's record, having achieved 152 wins in his first 250 matches with Manchester United, along with 63 draws and 35 losses, accumulating 519 points at an average of 2.07 points per game, and a win percentage of 60.8%. Herein lies the most striking paradox in Arteta’s numbers, as he is only one win away from Ferguson after playing the same number of matches, while he has managed to surpass Arsene Wenger, who has a long history with Arsenal .Wenger achieved 146 victories in his first 250 Premier League matches with Arsenal, along with 62 draws and 42 defeats, amassing 500 points at an average of two points per game and a win percentage of 58.4 %. Under Wenger, Arsenal scored 451 goals and conceded 223, compared to 471 goals scored by Arteta in his first 250 matches . Looking at the bigger picture, Arteta occupies a prominent position in this comparison, especially considering he achieved these figures despite starting his tenure with Arsenal when the team was far from being able to compete with Manchester City and Liverpool at the top . From eighth place in his first two seasons to three consecutive second-place finishes and then the Premier League title, Arteta has significantly reduced the pressure on Arsenal, rebuilding them into genuine title contenders .