Where Mikel Arteta Stands Among Premier League Greats as He Approaches Historic Milestone

Mikel Arteta has repeatedly proven his critics wrong throughout six years at the Arsenal helm, and the Spanish tactician will enter elite company during a historic visit to Aston Villa on Monday.

The Gunners kicked off their title defense with a commanding 3–0 win over Coventry City—matching the exact scoreline from their Community Shield victory against Manchester City the previous week—and that result marked Arteta's 150th Premier League triumph as a manager.

The dominant display against the newly-promoted outfit highlighted Arteta's remarkable influence in north London, and the 44-year-old is set to reach yet another milestone when he heads to Villa Park.

The Midlands encounter will represent Arteta's 250th Premier League game in charge of Arsenal, making him the second-youngest manager to achieve the milestone—with only Roberto Martínez having done so at a younger age.

Arteta will become just the 29th manager in Premier League history to hit that mark, and regardless of the result in the upcoming game, his record already places him among the competition's all-time elite.

How Does Arteta Compare to Managerial Icons?

Even if Arsenal fall short against Villa, Arteta's win percentage will still rank fifth-highest in Premier League history through 250 matches.

He has claimed victory in 60.2% of his 249 league appearances, posting an overall record of 150 wins, 48 draws, and 51 defeats—a better rate than Arsenal legend Arsène Wenger's 58.4% over the same span.

However, four managers have surpassed his record—and each one is a legendary name in the sport.

Pep Guardiola, Arteta's former mentor, leads the way with an extraordinary 73.6% win rate from his first 250 Premier League matches—a figure that towers above all rivals. Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is the nearest challenger to Arteta with a 64% success rate.

José Mourinho sits just behind the German, having won 63.2% of his matches, while 13-time Premier League title winner Sir Alex Ferguson boasts a 60.8% win rate.

A win over Villa would lift Arteta's percentage to 60.4% and see him become the 16th manager to accumulate 500+ points in the Premier League.