Between Arteta, Guardiola, Others: Who Should Win EPL MOTM?
As January 2025 gets wrapped up, the Premier League’s Manager of the Month award spotlights four distinguished candidates: Mikel Arteta of Arsenal, Pep Guardiola of Manchester City, Andoni Iraola of AFC Bournemouth and Eddie Howe of Newcastle United.
Each of these managers has showcased tactical ability and leadership, guiding their teams through a demanding month. In this piece let’s delve into their January performances, tactical approaches, and key statistics to assess who might clinch the accolade.
Mikel Arteta – Arsenal
Arteta’s Arsenal continued their pursuit of Premier League glory with a solid January. The Gunners secured 11 points during the month, maintaining their position at the league’s summit. Arteta’s tactical philosophy emphasizes possession-based football, quick attacking movements, and a high defensive line.
This approach has seen Arsenal dominate matches, with midfield maestro Martin Odegaard showing creativity and forwards like Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Martinelli providing attack and creativity on the flanks Defensively, the partnership between Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba has been formidable, contributing to clean sheets and improved goal prevention.
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Pep Guardiola – Manchester City
Guardiola’s Manchester City experienced a resurgence in January, amassing 10 points from a possible 12. Notably, they secured a commanding 6-0 victory against Ipswich Town and a 3-1 win over Chelsea. Guardiola’s tactics revolve around positional play, quick passing sequences, and exploiting spaces.
The winter transfer window saw City made three significant signings, enhancing the squad and enhancing performance levels. The departure of veteran defender Kyle Walker also signaled a tactical shift, with younger talents stepping up. City’s playmakers Kevin De Brunye and Phil Foden continued to be instrumental, while new signings are beginning to adopt Guardiola’s tactics.
Andoni Iraola – AFC Bournemouth
Iraola’s AFC Bournemouth emerged as one of January’s surprise packages. The Cherries secured impressive victories, including a 4-1 triumph over Newcastle United and a 5-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest.Iraola employs a high-pressing system, encouraging his team to regain possession swiftly and transition into attack. This strategy has paid dividends, with forwards like Justin Kluivert and Dango Outarra finding the net consistently. The defensive unit, controlled by Dean Huijsen has also shown resilience, contributing to a notable goal difference improvement.
Eddie Howe – Newcastle United
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United had a mixed January. While they suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Bournemouth, they bounced back with a 3-1 victory against Southampton. Howe’s tactical setup focuses on structured defense and swift counter-attacks. Midfielder Bruno Guimarães has been pivotal in linking defense and attack, while striker Alexander Isak remains a consistent goal threat. Despite the setback against Bournemouth, Howe’s ability to rally his team and secure subsequent victories underscores his managerial abilities
Prediction
Considering the month’s performances, Mikel Arteta appears to be the frontrunner for the Manager of the Month award. Arsenal’s unbeaten run and position at the league’s summit highlight Arteta’s effective tactics and leadership. Not only that his ability to draw out positive results in matches despite missing out on key players like Saka and nwaneri due to injuries emphasizes his ability as a manager.
However, Andoni Iraola’s transformative impact at Bournemouth, marked by emphatic victories, makes him a strong contender. The decision will ultimately hinge on whether consistency at the top or remarkable turnarounds are valued more by the judging panel including fans and pundits.
