Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted he was saddened by the decision to sack Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim, describing it as another reminder of how unforgiving football management can be.
Amorim was dismissed by the Old Trafford club on Monday, bringing an end to his 14-month spell in charge. His exit followed rising tensions with senior club officials, including director of football Jason Wilcox, in the days leading up to the decision.
The Portuguese coach’s dismissal came as a surprise to many, especially after United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe had earlier suggested Amorim would be given time to build, drawing comparisons with Arteta’s own early struggles at Arsenal.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Liverpool on Thursday, Arteta reflected on the harsh realities of the job.
“I can only speak from my own experience, and it’s always sad to see a colleague lose his job,” the Spaniard told reporters. “You need strong backing from the owners, the staff and the players but ultimately, results decide everything.”
Arteta knows that reality all too well. Appointed in 2019, he endured a difficult start at Arsenal, facing heavy criticism before eventually turning the club’s fortunes around. The Gunners now sit six points clear at the top of the Premier League table as they push for their first league title in more than two decades.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are struggling in sixth place, trailing Arsenal by a significant 17 points.
Amorim’s tenure at United proved turbulent. He managed just 25 wins from 63 matches across all competitions, making his spell the shortest for a permanent United manager since David Moyes was sacked eight months into his reign in 2014.
“At the end of the day, you have to win football matches to survive in this job,” Arteta added. “That’s the reality of modern football.”