29 January 2024 , 16:52
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Mikel Arteta believes it is highly unlikely he would coach another Premier League team after denying reports that he is planning to leave Arsenal at the end of the season.
The Spaniard, 41, has spent just over five years in the Emirates hot seat but was forced to shoot down links to Barcelona during a press conference previewing Arsenal's Premier League meeting with Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.
Speculation over Arteta's future comes just days after Jurgen Klopp announced he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. He has since outlined that he would not manage another English club - and Arteta gave a similar response when the scenario was put to him on Monday morning.
Arteta said: "Today no. I don’t know. I played for two great clubs in this country. I’m extremely young and I don’t know what’s going to happen."
Arteta then went on to pay tribute to Klopp, who has transformed Liverpool's fortunes over the course of his eight-and-a-half year premiership and currently has them out in front of the Gunners and Manchester City in the title race.
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He added on Klopp: "I think he’s made this league much better. First of all the person. The character, the charisma, I think he’s had a big contribution for this league. I love the way he did it. When you see that human side, the challenges and everything that is related to the club. We have to say thank you because he made this league much better."
Join the debate! Do you think Arteta will still be at Arsenal next season? Let us know here.
Mikel Arteta has ruled out managing another team in England after reaffirming his commitment to Arsenal (TNT Sports)In a similar move to Klopp, Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez announced that he would be quitting the Spanish giants in the summer.
Arteta has previously been dismissive of reports linking him with Barcelona - the club with whom he started his playing career - and admitted that "untrue" reports had left him "upset".
"That’s totally fake news. What I read yesterday I don't know where it’s coming from. I'm really upset about it. I could not believe it. I don't know where it’s coming from. I think we have to be very careful when you talk about personal things especially. I'm in the right place."
When he was asked why the reports had upset him, Arteta added: "One is a consequence of the other. First of all I'm really cautious when I talk publicly about my personal things. When someone puts a statement about what we've done personally. Secondly because I don't think someone deserves to hear news like that. I've always said completely the opposite. That's why I feel upset."