Mikel Arteta ‘very happy’ he did not get Arsenal job in summer

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that he thought leaving Manchester City to take the Arsenal coaching job over the summer but is ‘very happy’ to work under former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola.
The Spaniard was one of the favourites to succeed Arsene Wenger at the helm of Emirates but, the Gunners board, led by Ivan Gazidis, ultimately decided to go with Unai Emery over former midfielder, and the Man City coach insists he is happy to continue as Pep Guardiola’s right-hand man.

Asked about nearly leaving the Citizens, Mikel Arteta said: ‘In football, it’s so hard to predict things. When things happen, you have to make decisions – and sometimes you don’t have time to make decisions. ‘A decision was made, and I’m so happy the decision was made, and I’m very privileged to be where I am.’


Asked further on how close he came to getting the Arsenal job, former Everton man continued: ‘I didn’t talk on that moment two, three months ago, and I didn’t make any statement, and I don’t think today is the day to talk about it. ‘You all know something happened, but the reality is that I am here and I am very happy.’