Why Troy Deeney thinks Birmingham City boss Chris Davies is like Mikel Arteta | OneFootball

Troy Deeney has issued a glowing verdict on Birmingham City manager Chris Davies, even comparing him to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

Former Birmingham City striker and pundit Troy Deeney believes Chris Davies is the perfect manager to take the Blues forward, and he even compared him to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

After spells as a coach with the likes of Celtic, Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur, Davies was handed his first senior managerial role by Birmingham last summer following their relegation to League One.

Davies did an outstanding job in his first season at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park, leading the Blues to the third tier title with an EFL-record total of 111 points, but it has not been quite as straight forward for the 40-year-old in the Championship.

After a strong start to the season, Birmingham's form began to decline, and amid a run of just two wins in nine games between August and October, pressure started to increase on Davies, with Football Insider even reporting that he had been given just a matter of weeks to save his job before the November international break.

The same publication later claimed that ex-Wolves manager Gary O'Neil was one of the Blues' top targets to replace Davies if they decided to make a change, but back-to-back 4-0 home victories over Portsmouth and Millwall earlier this month significantly eased the growing scrutiny on his position.

It was a disappointing afternoon for Birmingham as they were beaten 2-1 at Middlesbrough on Saturday, but Davies' job looks secure heading into the international break, and his side currently sit 11th in the table, just four points from the play-off places.

Troy Deeney makes surprise Mikel Arteta comparison amid glowing Chris Davies, Birmingham City verdict

Deeney, who is a lifelong Birmingham supporter and scored 11 goals in 56 games during a two-year spell at the club between 2021 and 2023, heaped praise on Davies for the job he is doing at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park, and he claimed his relentless attitude reminds him of Arteta, whose Arsenal side currently sit four points clear at the top of the Premier League.

"I think the manager is mustard. And I think he's a top, top bloke," Deeney said on the Keep Right On podcast.

"And I think just to move forward a little bit to where we are now, I can see from the outside looking in why the struggles are happening.

"Because last year in League One, we were the best team by a country mile. So what happens with that is complacency kicks in and you can play at 60-70 percent and you're still better than whoever it might be.

"I don't know, probably a bad name but for like Peterborough, when we beat them in the league, we never have great games but we can beat them not playing great.

"Then you come to the Championship no-one's scared of you, no-one's sitting around going to give you credit, everyone's just as quick.

"And I think the lads have just had to have that little bit of a lull, where you mentally re-engage. You go, 'OK this is what it's supposed to be'. And they've got to kick on again.

"The manager drives standards, and I know that factually. He drives everyone to be better than they should be, even when they're winning he wants more.

"That's not only to be at this level, but that's to go again in the Prem and that's why I think, personally, Chris is perfect for it.

"I only know him a little bit. He's not a friend of mine or anything like that. I just think he's the modern-day coach now, but with the mentality of the old school of 'keep going, keep driving and keep winning' - to just be relentless with it.

"I see a lot of Arteta in him, a lot of Arteta in what he does. He's just relentless, just the way you train is the way you play. Keep going. This is the philosophy.

"And we're going to respect the opposition, but we are going to be that much better than you that you're going to have to deal with it, we're going to keep doing it our way and we're going to find ways to win. That's how I see it.

"So for me, I think he's the one now and the team and the players have got to step up to the standard."

Given that Arteta is now widely regarded as one of the best managers in the world, it is a big claim from Deeney to compare him to Davies, but there are certainly similarities between the pair in terms of their approach to management.

Anyone who watched Birmingham's recent Amazon documentary will have been struck by Davies' passion and his relentless desire to win, and it is clear from Arsenal's own behind-the-scenes series that Arteta shares a similar attitude, which no doubt explains why they have both enjoyed success in their managerial careers.

However, it has been an inconsistent start to life back in the Championship for the Blues, and with owner Tom Wagner making no secret of the fact the club are aiming for back-to-back promotions this season, Davies has little margin for error if he is to retain the faith of the hierarchy long-term.