Mikel Arteta urges he is in the “right place” as the Arsenal manager and voiced his disappointment at rumors suggesting he had informed colleagues about his intent to leave for Barcelona next season.
Reports emerged in Spain on Sunday evening, suggesting that Arteta had unintentionally announced his plans to leave the Emirates Stadium in the summer and take charge of his former club.
The current Barcelona manager, Xavi, announced on Saturday that he would step down in the summer following a series of disappointing results, making Arteta one of the top contenders for the position.
With a deep connection to Barcelona from his time in the renowned academy, Arteta is determined to remain at Arsenal as he strives to lead the team to success.
“I am in the right place. I am with the right people,” he said.
“I feel really good about it. And, as I said many times, I am invested in a beautiful journey with this football club, with these players, these staff, our people.
“There is still a lot to do here. We all share that ambition and you can feel it as well, that we want more, that we aren’t satisfied, and that the club wants to take another push and another level in everything we are doing.
“This is where we are. We need everyone on board to achieve it and I am certainly on board.”
Mikel Arteta, who takes his side to face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Tuesday, said the reports were completely fabricated.
“That’s totally fake news,” he added.
“What you read yesterday is… I don’t know where it is coming from and it is totally untrue. I am really upset about it.
“I could not believe it. I don’t know where it is coming from and it has no source. It has got nothing and I think we have to be very cautious when you talk about personal things, to put it in the way it was put yesterday.
“I understand we are in this industry but I don’t think anyone deserves to hear news like that and I have always been really straight and always said the complete opposite; how happy I am, how grateful I am and how much I enjoy where I am now. That is why I am upset.”
Arsenal will host league leaders Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, with Reds manager Jurgen Klopp revealing on Friday that he will depart Anfield in the summer.
The German mentioned that he could never manage another club in England. However, having previously worked under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Arteta did not dismiss the possibility of such a move in the future.
When questioned about the potential of managing another Premier League team, he responded, “At present, no. But I don’t know.”
“I played for two great clubs in this country (Arsenal and Everton). I moved around in different things. I am extremely young and I don’t know what’s going to happen.
“I think he (Klopp) made this league much better. First of all the person. The character, the charisma, the ideas and his passion for the game is something special. I think he’s had a big contribution for the growth of this league.”
