Former head of methodology at Arsenal, Kevin Balmers, has insisted that Mikel Arteta’s ability to translate his vision and ideas into the whole club is the reason why the Spaniard enjoys the board’s backing.
Balmers spent three years at Arsenal before leaving for Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven this summer and was an important part of Arteta’s staff.
He started out as a video analyst but became the head of methodology at the Emirates under the Spaniard’s leadership.
The Dutchman played a key role in building presentations that Arteta could present to the squad, prospective players and even the board and the owners.
He revealed that he even helped the Arsenal manager put together financial presentations that he could present to the board, which impressed the owners.
This is why the Arsenal board believe in Mikel Arteta
Arsenal have come a long way since Arteta took charge of the team from Unai Emery in the autumn of 2019.
Two back-to-back eighth-place finishes meant Arteta was under some pressure but the Arsenal board never came close to dismissing the Spaniard.
Balvers revealed that Arteta’s ability to translate his vision and ideas for the whole organisation is a key reason behind the Arsenal owners continuing to back him.
The Dutchman admitted that he felt that his time at Arsenal could be short-lived but Arteta continued to back him and the board was behind the manager.
“When he was presenting to the board about his plan for the club financially, we did some really good stuff”, Balver told The Athletic.
“We lost the first four games after I joined and I was thinking, ‘I could be out already’, but the strength of Mikel was that he could translate his vision and ideas about the whole organisation, not just the team.
“I think that’s why the board and owners believed in him.”
Arteta recently signed a new three-year deal until 2027 with Arsenal.
