This IS the cheap way out, and the fact that he was a former player and has no experience just means the board can persist with him for a while 1) Because the fans won’t be on him 2) because of the whole “rebuild” narrative that’s now being sold to the fans.
In addition, TV revenue has made league placement all but insignificant outside the top four. So not really a “big risk” unless he ends up getting us relegated which is unlikely even with our form. Our board uses a “self sustaining” model which means that regardless of where we finish they are unlikely to invest their money into the club. In which case where ever Arteta finishes will still make them enough money. Which is all that really matters.
It’s a win/win for both Arteta and the Board, and an unknown for the fans. So yeah not really a “big risk”.
Well no because they have made a bollocks of the actual wording for starters and also there’s a big difference between 20 months into the decade when we signed him as a player and 11 days from the end off it when we signed him as a coach so none of it makes sense.
He’ll have my backing but I’ve been totally unimpressed by the higher ups in every way this season they don’t have a scooby of a clue what they’re doing.