Sky Sports pundit: Everton boss Frank Lampard under less pressure than Mikel Arteta at Arsenal
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Former Everton captain Kevin Campbell has dismissed the idea that Frank Lampard is one of the most under-pressure managers for the start of the season.
Danny Murphy had suggested on talkSPORT on 24 June that the Toffees boss and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had the most on them when the new campaign started, more so than big-spending Aston Villa coach Steven Gerrard.
But Sky Sports pundit Campbell believes that spending money always puts you under more pressure to get results and looked at the Gunners boss as being on far shakier ground than Lampard who he feels came through his tests in the narrow escape from relegation in his first experiences at Goodison Park.
“Most under pressure? I don’t think he is the most under pressure,” Campbell told Goodison News.
“I think Frank Lampard’s pressure all came last season and the end of the season.
“That’s where all the pressure was.
“Now he gets the opportunity to fix some things and to refurbish.
“So I don’t think so. I think it’s been a long time since the Everton faithful have connected to a manager.
“So I don’t think he’s the most under pressure at all.
“It’s all varying degrees. Mikel Arteta will always be under pressure, especially if they spend the money that they’re spending and they get the players in.
“There’s a pressure with spending money, there’s a pressure with improving your squad. There’s always pressure.
“So I totally understand it and I get it, but this is high level football we’re talking about.
“Frank Lampard will be under some pressure, but I don’t think he’ll be the most.”
Arteta has spent big on Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira, and Lampard’s ex-England teammate Gerrard has brought in the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Diego Carlos.
In contrast, the Toffees boss has only been able to bring in James Tarkowski on a free from Burnley, while also losing one of his star players in Richarlison.
Against a backdrop of ongoing uncertainty over the future ownership of the club, and a financial situation that makes his transfer window more difficult, Lampard has to improve a side which nearly dropped into the Championship, so while he certainly doesn’t have free rein to lose he surely has more leeway.
Add to that the bond he has already built with the fanbase, on the whole, and there have to be others on the hot seat first.