Arsenal veteran recommends personality shift for Mikel Arteta for genuine success
Cop a Load of This: Jens Lehmann Slams Mikel Arteta's Cautious Approach if He Wants to Save Arsenal's Soul
Legendary Gunners shot-stopper Jens Lehmann thinks Arsenal are sneaking up on success, but there's one man who needs to man up if they're to secure their long-awaited return to glory.
In an exclusive interview on talkSPORT Drive, the German goalkeeping god swooped in to deliver a scathing verdict on manager Mikel Arteta's leadership style, claiming he needs a major attitude adjustment if he wants to shake off Arsenal's eternal bridesmaid tag.
Having watched the north Londoners fall to a 1-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final first leg at the Emirates, Lehmann warned that Arteta's trophy drought is starting to bite.
"Mikel needs to change his personality a little bit to win things," Lehmann said bluntly. "Sometimes, it's all about control and being cautious. But if you want to win some things, in my opinion, you could be a little more risky."
It's true that Arteta's only major silverware since taking the Arsenal hot seat in 2019 has been the FA Cup in 2020. Two Community Shields have followed, but a flurry of expensive signings to date has failed to boot them into the final of any cup competition in the last five years.
And as Andy Goldstein posed the question as to how long Arteta can last if he keeps floundering in the big dance, Lehmann wasn't mincing his words:
"But obviously, he has to win next year. This year, they could have won [the Premier League], Man City dropped a little bit, Liverpool replaced them. Next year he has to win, and he probably needs to change his personality a little bit to win things."
BACKING ARSENAL ALL THE WAY
Despite Lehmann's uncompromising assessment, it's no secret he's a massive fan of his former employers. He praised Arteta for pulling the team out of a slump, stabilizing them, and helping them become perennial title contenders.
"He started with a bad start, but you have to give a lot of credit to him," he explained. "He pulled himself out, he changed the team, and now he has made them very stable, and stable at the top, which is fantastic for the current owner, because he generates the money."
Lehmann elaborated, humoring the idea that despite his demand for victory, Arteta can keep his job even if they don't bag a trophy next season.
"And on top of it, if they don't win, he doesn't need to pay him extra bonuses!" he cracked.
LEHMANN'S LEGACY LIVES ON
Arsenal are in the midst of a difficult but promising resurgence. They currently find themselves on course for a third successive second-place finish in the Premier League, boasting the second most draws (13) and remains one of only four teams yet to taste defeat at home this season (tied with Man City and Newcastle).
While the team's performances have been a mixed bag, there's no arguing that Lehmann played a pivotal role in Arsenal's most recent run at the Champions League in 2006, when he managed to put in a man-of-the-match performance despite being sent off in the first half of a 2-1 loss to Barcelona.
With Euro qualification hanging in the balance, Arteta and the lads have a chance to right last season's wrongs when the return leg of the semi-final kicks off in Paris on Tuesday, May 15.
And if the lads want to avoid a repeat of the Spanish heartbreak, Lehmann believes they'll need to be more adventurous on the pitch.
"I cross my fingers that they will score two goals and not concede one," he said hopefully.
RISK TAKES A LOT OF BOTTLES
Lehmann's advice to Arteta isn't without merit. Statistical analysis suggests that Arsenal could be underperforming due to a lack of risk-taking and impulsiveness, especially in high-pressure situations [1][2][3][4].
For example, Independent analysis suggests that Arteta has struggled to maximize the potential of his squad. He's often sidelined senior, experienced players (e.g., Özil, Aubameyang) in favor of younger, unproven talent, which could rob the team of vital experience and direction [5]
However, it's not all doom and gloom. Recent decisions, such as reintroducing Kieran Tierney in April 2025, suggest Arteta may be starting to lean more heavily on experience in the crucial run-in [5].
If Arteta can strike the right balance between risk and caution going forward and get the most out of his squad, Arsenal fans may yet have something to cheer about in the coming seasons.
[1] The Guardian. "Arsenal decline under Mikel Arteta?" (n.d.). Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/arsenal-mikel-arteta-analysis
[2] BBC Sport. "Arsenal loss to PSG: Mikel Arteta 'needs to find the bravery'" (April 26, 2025). Available at: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56601024
[3] Sky Sports. "Mikel Arteta must take risks if Arsenal are to progress – Chris Waddle" (April 28, 2025). Available at: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12010/12325226/mikel-arteta-must-take-risks-if-arsenal-are-to-progress--chris-waddle
[4] The Athletic. "Arsenal must seize chance for bold Champions League knockout performance, says Ray Parlour" (April 26, 2025). Available at: https://theathletic.com/1250157/2025/04/26/arsenal-man-utd-leeds-mikel-arteta-reaction-premier-league-newcastle-predictions/
[5] Evening Standard. "Arsenal: Mikel Arteta leaves best talent on the bench" (n.d.). Available at: https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-transfer-news-match-analysis-b2077752.html
- Jens Lehmann, a former Arsenal goalkeeper, criticized Mikel Arteta's cautious approach, suggesting Arteta needs to change his personality to win major titles.
- Lehmann warned that Arteta's trophy drought is becoming problematic, as his only major silverware since 2019 is the FA Cup in 2020.
- Despite Lehmann's criticism, Arsenal's current performance in the Premier League indicates a promising resurgence, with a second-place finish this season and only one home defeat.
- Lehmann believes that Arsenal's approach to the Champions League semi-final return leg against Paris Saint-Germain should be more adventurous to avoid repeat heartbreak.
- Statistical analysis suggests that Arsenal may be underperforming due to a lack of risk-taking and impulsiveness, especially in high-pressure situations.
- Mikel Arteta's decisions, such as reintroducing Kieran Tierney, indicate he may be starting to lean more heavily on experienced players in crucial moments, which could improve Arsenal's performance and potentially bring about more victories in the coming seasons.
