'Nobody doubted Arteta would be a good manager' - Kompany
- Published
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany was full of praise for his former Manchester City coach Mikel Arteta in his pre-match news conference on Thursday.
The pair worked together for three seasons after Arteta made the decision to join Pep Guardiola's coaching team in July 2016, following his retirement.
Kompany even recalled the Gunners boss "still joining in with training sessions" when he arrived at the club.
With Arsenal and Burnley playing each other in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon at Emirates Stadium, Kompany said Arteta has been the difference at Arsenal: "They are a team that is well coached and who belong where they are at the moment, at the top of English football.
"What he's done at Arsenal is completely in line with his personality. He started with some tough challenges, but he managed to rally the club behind him, and they've built a team that is one of the best in the league."
Kompany also revealed that Mikel Arteta was known for being "extremely passionate, driven, dedicated and intelligent" during his time at City.
The Burnley boss recognised the challenge it will be for his 19th-placed side to take on Arteta's title-chasing Gunners.
"Nobody doubted that he would be a good manager," he added. "Arsenal are a very robust squad in every way: strong physically, good technically and speed in the right areas."
