The award has been given out eight times this season. Only one recipient, Pep Guardiola, has won his next game
By Richard Foster for The Football Mine
Is the Premier League’s manager of the month award cursed? A look at the winners this season suggests the recipients should be more reticent about accepting it. Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday night came three days after Mikel Arteta had been crowned the manager of the month for March. Having won five straight away games, Arsenal’s defeat at Selhurst Park brought that run to a juddering halt.
Arsenal are seemingly locked in a private battle for fourth place with Tottenham and the north London clubs have a curious synchronicity when it comes to the manager of the month award. Nuno Espírito Santo won the first award this season in August after he steered his new club to three successive victories, including an impressive win over the champions, Manchester City, on the opening day. His team were top of the table and he was basking in the glory of his 100% record when he won the award. Within 52 days he would be sacked.
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