Frank Lampard gives his honest verdict on Mikel Arteta ahead of Friday’s clash with Coventry
Arsenal kick off their Premier League title defence against Coventry City on Friday night.
Mikel Arteta will be looking to win the Gunners’ opening game for the fifth consecutive season.
And on the other side of the touchline will be a familiar face.
Frank Lampard guided Coventry to the Championship title last season and now brings them to the Emirates for their first top-flight campaign in 26 years.
Facing Arteta again will bring back some vivid memories for the ex-Chelsea and Everton manager.
Frank Lampard on coming up against ‘intense’ Mikel Arteta
Speaking to official Premier League media ahead of Friday’s curtain-raiser, Lampard had plenty to say about the Arsenal manager.
“He’s got that natural competitive force I think we all had,” he said. “I remember him as a player, albeit it feels quite a few years ago now, but I always remember he was a very talented player with a bit of an edge to him, in a good way. He was a bit of a technical player as well.
“You always feel like he’s a man of big detail. So you know you’re coming up against a team that’s going to give you tactical issues, and also he’s very intense on the sideline which I respect — we all have our own ways of doing it.
“I’ve had my moments too and I think when you’re in the zone, you’re in a zone.
“So always know you’ve got a tough battle because he’s a very serious operator. Hence he’s a Premier League winner now.”
Despite their battles as both players and coaches, Lampard clearly has a lot of respect for Arteta, even if their history on the pitch was occasionally spiky at times.
Frank Lampard is relishing another meeting with Mikel Arteta as @Arsenal host @Coventry_City on Friday 👊
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 19, 2026
Who will come out on top in the 2026/27 season opener? 👀 pic.twitter.com/kfR1PKTzZ5
Frank Lampard has beaten Mikel Arteta before as a manager
In terms of their head-to-head record as managers, Arteta has the better of Lampard quite convincingly.
The Arsenal manager has four wins from six meetings, one draw and one Lampard victory.
Arteta’s Arsenal have outscored Lampard’s sides 16 goals to eight across those six encounters.
Their most memorable meeting was the 2020 FA Cup final, where Arsenal came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1, where a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang brace secured Arteta’s first trophy as a manager.
Lampard won the first meeting between them in December 2019, but since then Arteta is unbeaten in five consecutive meetings against him.
Friday night will be the seventh, and Lampard knows exactly what he is up against.
