 On 8 January 2017, Artell was appointed as Crewe Alexandra's first team manager, replacing Steve Davis.One of his first moves was to appoint another ex-Crewe player and former Bala teammate Kenny Lunt as assistant manager.With his side facing the possibility of relegation out of EFL League Two after a 4–0 defeat at Hartlepool United on 28 February, Artell warned his players that "relegation means oblivion... they'll end up in the Conference North on £200 a week with a job as a milkman."