- Thomas Tuchel and Mikel Arteta stand among the more meticulous managerial contemporaries, but the two coaches have met head-to-head on just a few occasions.
- Chelsea’s decision to part ways with Tuchel at the start of the 2022/23 season, which Arteta admitted came as a surprise at the time, meant there was little chance for a rivalry to brew and form.
- With Tuchel exiting the Premier League and the Spaniard continuing to build in north London, any head-to-head duels between the pair moving forward are likely to arrive via the Champions League.
- Here’s a rundown of the head-to-head record between Arteta and Tuchel.
- 1. Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal (12/05/21)
- A Jorginho error decided the first duel between Tuchel and Arteta / Shaun Botterill/GettyImages
- Arsenal certainly hadn’t escaped their ‘banter era’ when these two managers met for the first time, with current Gooner and then Chelsea midfielder Jorginho deciding the encounter.
- The Italian’s overhit back-pass forced Kepa Arrizabalaga to scramble and, despite the Spaniard preventing an own goal, he couldn’t prevent Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Emile Smith Rowe from combining for the game’s only goal.
- Tuchel rung the changes for this midweek encounter, with Chelsea tasting defeat to Leicester in the FA Cup final just a few days later. Arsenal, meanwhile, finished eighth in the Premier League table despite their late-season victory at Stamford Bridge.
- 2. Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea (22/08/21)
- Romelu Lukaku dominated at the Emirates / Shaun Botterill/GettyImages
- 2020/21 would end with Chelsea holding the Champions League trophy aloft. Kai Havertz sunk Manchester City in Porto and expectations were sky-high for Tuchel’s Blues heading into the new season.
- Romelu Lukaku, who’d just inspired Inter to their first Scudetto in a decade, returned to the club and Arsenal felt the full effect of the Belgian on Matchday 2 of the 2021/22 campaign.
- Reece James had a field day down the right flank against a Gunners side that would start their Premier League campaign with three scoreless defeats. Arteta’s side were comfortably second best as Lukaku scored twice in a 2-0 away win.
- 3. Chelsea 2-4 Arsenal (20/04/22)
- Arsenal continued their impressive run at Stamford Bridge towards the end of the 2021/22 season / Marc Atkins/GettyImages
- Arteta just about stayed in the job at the start of 2021/22 and his Arsenal side would recover to mount an impressive top-four charge. However, three straight defeats in April threatened their assault before they rocked up at the Bridge.
- Tuchel’s Chelsea had endured a disappointing campaign given the expectations and they were put to the sword on home soil by slick Gunners performance.
- Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka were in fine form as Arsenal reignited their top-four hopes with a 4-2 win. Stand-in striker Eddie Nketiah also recorded a brace.
- Mikel Arteta vs Thomas Tuchel H2H record
- Mikel Arteta: 2 wins
- Thomas Tuchel: 1 wins
- Draws: 0
- Goals scored
- Teams managed by Arteta: 5
- Teams managed by Tuchel: 4
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