Mikel Arteta reached a significant personal milestone in Arsenal’s 1-0 victory at Aston Villa on Monday, taking charge of his 250th Premier League match with a single club.

Bukayo Saka proved to be the difference-maker with a goal in the 59th minute, securing all three points and extending the Gunners’ perfect start to the new season with back-to-back wins from their opening two fixtures.

Data from BBC Sport places the Spanish coach among an elite group of just ten managers to have overseen at least 250 top-flight matches for one club.

His tally of 151 victories, 48 draws, and 51 defeats translates to a win percentage just above 60 per cent, putting him in fourth position on that particular list, trailing only Pep Guardiola’s stint at Manchester City, Alex Ferguson’s legendary Manchester United reign, and Jurgen Klopp’s time at Liverpool.

Reacting to the achievement, Arteta expressed appreciation for the backing he has received throughout his tenure, noting how meaningful it felt to mark the occasion with a positive result and pointing out how the figure was beginning to feel substantial.

The Arsenal boss also touched on the symbolic nature of beating Villa specifically, given that last season’s corresponding fixture ended in a last-gasp defeat during their eventual title-winning campaign.

He credited the whole squad rather than any individual, emphasizing the team’s need to be sharper in the final third and praising the resilience shown at a traditionally difficult venue.

The win also kept alive Arsenal’s strong record of winning their opening away Premier League fixture for a fifth consecutive season, while Villa’s afternoon went from bad to worse as they remain without a shot on target so far this campaign.