Robert Pires
Bucharest, Romania. 3rd May, 2023: Robert Pires, during a press conference about the charity football match “Mihai Nesu Gala” between the former Romanian stars team and European team of FIFPRO
Robert Pires has said Arsenal wanted to sack Mikel Arteta early on, but patience paid off for the Gunners.
Thursday’s edition of La Provence carries an interview with Pires, who was at Arsenal between 2000 and 2006.
The Frenchman left the Gunners as a free agent and joined Villarreal in 2006. He spent four years in Spain and returned to England to join Aston Villa.
During his time at Villa Park, the 52-year-old played alongside with Habib Beye. Marseille appointed the latter as Roberto De Zerbi’s successor on February 19th.
This saw Beye return to the bench just days after leaving Stade Rennais. The French newspaper wanted the former Arsenal man’s views on the new Marseille manager and what he could bring to the club.
La Provence say ‘time is a rare commodity’ at the Ligue 1 side. Pires used Arsenal wanting to part ways with Arteta within months as an example to explain his point, and why Marseille need to show some patience for once.
How Edú stopped Arteta’s exit
Arsenal appointed the 43-year-old Spaniard as Unai Emery’s successor in December 2019, when Edú Gaspar was a director at the Emirates.
In May 2024, Arteta said Edú “changed my life, because he had the courage to trust me”. Pires believes Marseille need to follow Arsenal and get behind their new manager.
“We have to trust him [Beye] and give him time,” he said.
“The best example to follow is Mikel Arteta. After three months, Arsenal wanted to fire him. But the sporting director, Edú, trusted him, and Arteta got the results everyone knows.
“I don’t know if OM is capable of doing the same, given their need for serenity and stability. There are no other solutions.”
Decision to stick with Arteta pays off
Edú’s trust paid off as Arteta helped Arsenal win the FA Cup during the 2019/20 season and the Community Shield in August 2020.
Although the Gunners haven’t won anything since then, the manager has turned his side into genuine title contenders.
The Premier League side have finished second in the last three seasons, losing the title to Manchester City [twice] and Liverpool last season.
Arteta’s side are in firm contention to win the title this season. Arsenal are leading the table, five points ahead of second placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand.