Mikel Arteta triggers jinx fears after winning Premier League award

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta was officially named the Premier League Manager of the Month for March after going unbeaten.

 The Spaniard earned the accolade after guiding the Gunners to the division's only 100% record during the month, securing three vital victories from three matches against Chelsea (2-1), Brighton & Hove Albion (1-0), and Everton (2-0). 

The defining moment of this streak came during the gritty win against Everton, where Arteta's inspired substitution saw 16-year-old Max Dowman force an 89th-minute opener before scoring deep into stoppage time to become the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history. 

This spectacular run allowed Arsenal to open a massive nine-point gap over second-placed Manchester City, bringing the North London club incredibly close to securing their first league title in 22 years. 

For Arteta, the prize marks the eighth Manager of the Month award of his managerial career and his first since February 2024, elevating him to joint-sixth on the all-time Premier League leaderboard alongside Martin O'Neill and Harry Redknapp.

Despite the prestige of the award, segments of the Arsenal fanbase actively hoped Arteta would lose out to his fellow nominees due to their fear of the infamous "Manager of the Month curse." 

This long-standing Premier League superstition suggests that the recipient of the award is instantly jinxed, often suffering a sudden drop in form, a shocking defeat, or key injuries in their immediate subsequent fixtures. 

However, statistical reality disproves the myth; teams managed by the reigning Manager of the Month win their next game far more often than they lose, and Arteta himself has previously laughed off the superstition by pointing out that Arsenal have gone on extended winning streaks after some of his previous gongs. 

Sitting in first place with 70 points from 31 matches, Arsenal need to maintain their ruthless momentum to fend off Pep Guardiola's side and finally lift the Premier League trophy.