Arteta: The game was much easier when I was a player than it is now. You have to learn to reflect as a coach

Arsenal head coach Arteta was interviewed and talked about the differences between his status as a coach and his identity as a player, the changes in modern football, and how he views his abilities as a player.

Since you took office in 2019, what is the biggest difference between you as a coach and you as a player back then?

I would say there are a lot of differences. It's clear that my kids are in a different stage. I think it makes a difference in you as a person as well and has an impact on how you have to approach your job. I would say I learned a lot, some of which I should have done better, but I've always been surrounded by great people and I've gained a lot of experience over time and I'm very happy now.

If you could give your past self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Feel your feelings and follow your intuition. Follow your heart, when your feelings are genuine and always in the best interests of the football club, you can usually be comfortable with the outcome and it's usually a good decision.

What do you think is the biggest difference between the current Premier League and your playing days?

I would say it's a different game. The current game has reached a completely different level in terms of physical, technical, speed and space utilization requirements. The game was much easier when I was a player.

Do you think it is more difficult to be a player or a coach?

It depends on the situation. I think both have their beauty, but also their challenges and unpredictability. I would say that as a coach, surprises happen every day. Some are wonderful, some not so much. Some things happen that are not in the books, not in the coaching license program, you have to act on your gut and, again, surround yourself with good people to give you advice and learn from your mistakes.

Many people say that football in the past was more interesting, while football now pays more attention to tactics. Do you agree?

I think so. Because now there's more data, more technology, we have more resources to interpret what we think is happening on the field. There are more things for players to pay attention to. There are some things I never practiced as a player, like the foul ball play that never worked. Whether attacking or defending against any type of opponent, they now need to master a lot to be effective.

What do you think would happen if you, as a player, played football today?

Well, I will definitely be very focused on learning and improving. I think it will make me a better player.