Mikel Arteta was strongly linked with the Arsenal job in the summer
The former Arsenal captain was one of the leading candidates to take over from Arsène Wenger in the summer, after the Frenchman stepped down after 22 years in charge at the club.
Arteta retired as a player in 2016 and immediately joined the coaching staff at Manchester City to work under Pep Guardiola. Having spent two years at City, winning one Premier League title, Arsenal fans were hopeful that Arteta would return to the Emirates to take the vacant seat on the dugout.
As it panned out, he stayed put at City, and Unai Emery was appointed Arsenal manager after he left Paris-Saint Germain.
In the build-up to Manchester City’s Champions League tie against Lyon, Arteta addressed the rumours that surrounded his future during the summer, saying he is happy with his decision to remain at City.
“In football it’s so hard to predict things,” said Arteta.
“When things happen, you have to make decisions, sometimes you don’t have time to make them,” he added.
“The decision was made and I’m so happy the decision was made. I’m very privileged to be where I am.
“I feel very fulfilled with the job I’m doing at the moment.
“If you ask me the question if, one day in the future, I will be a coach, the answer is probably ‘yes’.
“But I’m really happy where I am and really enjoying the moment I’m living. We have a fantastic momentum and there’s still a lot of room for this club to grow – so I am very pleased with where I am.
Asked whether he was close to becoming Arsenal manager, he was reluctant to reveal much.
“I didn’t talk on that two or three months ago and I didn’t make a statement.
“And I don’t think today is the day to talk about it. You all know something happened but the reality is I’m here and I’m very happy.”
It’s not clear whether he was offered the job and rejected it or if he was never contacted, but he seems to have no huge desire to leave City any time soon. However, in the case that Emery’s time at Arsenal is cut short, he would surely be one of the leading candidates for the job again.
