Arsenal have blown away expectations with their amazing start to the 2022/23 season. Just before the World Cup break, the Gunners showcased impressive consistency to head into that period as one of the best teams in Europe.
They are currently leading the Premier League table with 37 points from 14 games and are five points ahead of defending champions Manchester City. Mikel Arteta is on cloud nine and his popularity as Arsenal manager has not been higher.
The Spaniard did not have an easy way to success at the Emirates Stadium, of course.
Arteta had to accept a lot of intense criticism from the fans after failing to help his side qualify for the Premier League top 4 in his first three full seasons in charge.
But he has proved why it was right to ‘trust the process’ by bringing a revolution to the club and completely changing the outlook of the team.
Arsenal now has a young, vibrant squad bubbling with brilliant talents. Arteta’s signings have (mostly) been major hits and played a pivotal role in their evolution under him.
For the time being, however, the ex-Man City assistant manager is watching his players tough it out at the Qatar World Cup.
There is still a few weeks before the Gunners are back in action in the Premier League and Arteta has gotten some time off to enjoy a little vacation before going back to the grind.
Well, it appears that he chose to do his vacation in the USA! Arteta and Arsenal sporting director Edu Gasper both recently travelled to the States to seemingly have a meeting with owner Stan Kroenke ahead of the January transfer window.
The Spanish duo were pictured entering the SoFI Stadium in Los Angeles(earned partly by Kroenke) on Sunday.
It looks like Arteta and Edu were both invited to watch the LA Rams (which is also owned by Kroenke) face the Seattle Seahawks in their NFL game at the weekend.
While he could not spiritually inspire them to win games like his Arsenal have been this season, Arteta was recognized by quite a few fans at the stadium. He even posed for pictures with some fans and looked to be in a happy mood.
Not just that, but the Spanish gaffer also had a very interesting interaction with one fan during the game.
The Gooner kept asking him whether Arsenal will look to sign Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk in the January transfer window.
Mudryk is reportedly a target for the Premier League giants because they want to add more quality wingers to the squad to improve their depth in attacking options. When asked about whether his side will make a move for Mudryk, Arteta allegedly answered: ‘We’re trying’.
That was definitely a major tease from the Spaniard, who knows that a lot of his side’s fans are desperate to see them make a major signing in the winter transfer window.
But for the time being, Arteta is just enjoying life and taking a breather outside of football before Arsenal’s most challenging season in years resumes again.