Mikel Arteta is likely to want the Barcelona job one day, and sources have confirmed their interest in the former Blaugrana. However, Arsenal have every confidence that he will extend his stay in the Premier League for now.
Mikel Arteta Expected to Stay at Arsenal Despite Barcelona Interest
Barcelona are being linked with a move for the Gunners boss as they contemplate life after Xavi, who will depart his role as coach at the end of this season. Spanish sources have confirmed to SportsLens that Catalan interest in Arteta is real, at a time when they are plotting the next phase of their revival in La Liga.
Yet the chances of them landing Arteta are slim, with firm expectation that the Spanish coach is planning to stay at Arsenal. Arteta, 41, arrived as head coach in North London in December 2019 and has proven a transformative figure, with the club currently embroiled in a three-horse Premier League title race.
Sources have told SportsLens that it is difficult to put a time frame on when the boss will commit himself to a fresh contract, but that it would be a “big shock” if there was any other decision.
Arteta has been given full backing by Edu and the Arsenal board in terms of his vision and intentions for the side, and there is a feeling he has much more to offer before considering life elsewhere.
Arsenal have undergone major squad upgrades, including a £105million transfer record fee for Declan Rice, and are ready to spend further in the summer. To leave for Barcelona right now would make little sense in terms of team status – even though it is feasible he will one day be open to the idea.
Arteta seems to model himself on the success of former Manchester City colleague Pep Guardiola, and the idea of managing Barca would undoubtedly hold appeal. Barcelona may be a bigger club in a global sense but their financial situation is making it difficult to compete with Real Madrid domestically.
Insiders believe he would be unlikely to go into a club that is starting at the beginning of a team build, when he has already put together a side that is arguably stronger than Barcelona in their current mode, in terms of contending for silverware. Arteta has one year remaining on his contract after this season but is expected to commit beyond that term.
Arsenal face Brentford this weekend and a win on Saturday would put them top of the league ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash between Liverpool and Manchester City.
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