Mikel Arteta, Erik ten Hag andRotherham United prove football fans must ‘trust the process’

Mikel Arteta and Erik ten Hag have overcome criticism. Now Arsenal and Man Utd are on the up. Rotherham United are on the same trust the process’ journey.

Football fans yearn for short-term success and this has arguably got worse over the past ten years. The information era has brought a lack of patience. People want everything here and now and this has translated to football with managers in particular being subject to criticism before they even have their name plate on the door.

This has been evident at varying levels, with no finer example of the benefits of ‘trusting the process’ than Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.

The inexperienced coach would have been out of a job if he was working anywhere else after guiding one of England’s biggest clubs to successive eighth-place finishes in the Premier League.

But Arsenal’s hierarchy are benefiting from backing their manager as Arteta is overseeing a project with a young, talented squad emerging as unexpected contenders for the title.

The former Manchester City assistant is now rightly adored by the club’s supporters, but this was not always the case, with some calling for his head as Arsenal languished around mid-table.