According to a report in The Times [paywalled], Pep Guardiola could offer Mikel Arteta a place on his coaching staff when he takes over as manager of Manchester City in the summer.
The Arsenal club captain, who is again sidelined with injury, looks set to call time on his playing career at the end of the current campaign having been plagued by a recurring calf problem.
The 33-year-old has been coaching Arsenal’s youngsters since the autumn as part of his UEFA coaching badge course leading Arsene Wenger to lavish praise on his commitment and influence at London Colney.
“Just through his behaviour, his focus on getting everything right in the team, he has a huge influence,” noted the boss in October. “He has great experience and is respected throughout the squad.
“I really hope Mikel considers going into coaching. When you manage, you want to see your players continue and see them give their experience and knowledge back.”
In December, Wenger hinted he could extend a formal invitation to the Spaniard to join his coaching staff when his contract comes to an end although he also admitted that he’s happy with his current set-up.
It remains to be seen what comes of Guardiola’s apparent flirtation with Mikel. The two were spotted in deep conversation after Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Bayern earlier in the season and the latter is believed to have visited the former in Bavaria.
Arseblog News thinks Mikel should be wary. We suspect Pep is just looking to harvest some of that perfect hair for his bald pate.
You can fuck right off Guardiola – Lego Man is ours.
This actually made me lol
Man City need to fuck off from our players. Seriously just fucking fuck the fuck off. Cunts.
Much agreed! I figure the only reason Arteta’s still at the club is because Wenger wants him to join the coaching staff when he retires. If he goes to City then we’ve basically wasted a space in the squad for two years. Tell City to fuck off!
City have no class so they try to buy ours.
I think Arteta would be a great coach, irrespective of who he is assistant to. I think he is a good decision maker and has an eye for spotting talent too. And he has very good footballing education at Barcelona, showed flair when he was with Everton and has learnt the basics of coaching methods with Wenger. Really hope he turns out to be a future manager for us. He’s a very level headed guy.
* a very level-haired guy
Yea, pretty sure they are after his DNA to harvest some of that lushious hair for Pep
He’s gonna pull a Vieira on us.
Why do City always take our players? why?
It ain’t right!
Just before a game officials from Team B provides a story that player/coach from team A is wanted by team B.
Well, that’s never been seen before. It must be true….
Pep hasn’t been at Barca for a few years now.
I wonder how this story rates on the poo-meter. Personally I think there’s nothing to it. The guys are probably friends and that’s that.
I genuinely think that there’s nothing that Man City can offer to make us look second best. Money would be the total sum of it, although we are not short of cash ourselves.
Guardiola will change the way Man City play, that’s for sure but he won’t change their ethos. They aren’t Barcelona and this is not La liga.
I think money might well be the answer. Arteta isn’t going to play any more, why wouldn’t he sign up for a cushy job for loads of dough at a club which is chucking it at anyone they can get in order to bolster the make believe that they have a history?
It worked for Vieira. Why would Arteta be any different? Doesn’t make him a bad person. Just as going to City didn’t make Vieira a good coach.
I think Vieira did it more or less because Arsenal didn’t offer him a job. I like to think he was trying to be spiteful because he hasn’t really spoken well of the team/manager in recent years. It must hurt him that little extra bit seeing Pires, Lehmann, Ljungberg, Petit, Henry and the rest all back at the Club in some capacity, even if temporary. Only he turned around and went to City because he felt disrespected…
Well, I suppose Arteta isn’t working for free at Arsenal and while money it’s obviously a big factor you can see how well Viera’s coaching career is going. There’s a fair few players whose career has gone down the pan because they followed the money trail disregarding anything else.
If you earn £1.000 and you get offered £1.500 then the difference is huge and possibly life changing. If you earn a £1.000.000 and you get offered £1.5 million then other aspects come into the equation. Or maybe i’m just a deluded old fool.
I’ll tell you why, even if Arteta, ends up at Man City, it won’t be because of money. It is the fundamental difference between Vieira and Arteta. Arteta has always sought technical advancement in his profession. He took a pay cut to come to Arsenal. He did not make noises at Everton or Arsenal to strong arm the club into offering him better terms. He refused to sign a contract extension in the summer until he was sure that he could contribute to the team this season (unfortunately that did not come to pass). Contrast this with Vieira who, even… Read more »
Nail. Head. You hit it!
To be fair to City, they’ve invested heavily in the structure of the club as well as the players, and I think the owners want them to become self-sufficient, rather like us with a strong youth system (not that ours isn’t good, but we haven’t had “one of our own” come through since Jack – our best youngsters tend to be bought at 16/17). They’ve got old Cheeky whatsisface in who helped rope in Guardiola and have spent millions on their infrastructure. I’d like to think we’re just as appealing to work for but it’s hardly like they’re some second… Read more »
Would 10x rather have Arteta as manager some day than Thierry
Guardiola has basically failed in Germany, Bayern have plateaued. Even his Barcelona side almost got done by Bendtner, they improved a lot since he left.
Did you watch the hammering they gave us earlier this season?
And plateaued from what? winning everything available?
Plateaued is the wrong word. Declined is better, they’ve gone from winning the treble to only winning the league, which it’s pretty hard not too with Bayern in the Bundesliga.
What a loser! If only he had the might of Leicester City and Spurs to deal with!!
Joker!
It’s not only about money, Man City have ambition and are actually taking steps to be the best club they can be and creating the best future possible, like identifying and hiring the best staff available.
The reason Arsene wouldn’t hire Arteta, like Vieira, Adams, Keown, Seaman etc etc… is because he might have his own idea’s and Wenger doesn’t like people with ideas, he likes people to do as he tells them
Rubbish, John….I disagree with the entire second paragraph…. lazy speculation.. based on?..
Based on not one of them being offered a job and the one that is, uncle bouldy, sitting there on the bench looking bored and just there picking up his pay cheque
Arteta – Wenger has already said he wants him on the coaching staff and he’s helped with the under 18’s and reserves already.
Vieira – offered more money at City.
Adams – has only ever wanted the managers job.
Keown – likes being a pundit and currently doesn’t want the stress of coaching.
Seaman – has always said he wants to enjoy his retirement.
To add some others which i’m guessing would be part of your ‘etc’…
Bergkamp – enjoys being assistant manager at Ajax.
Henry – helped with the under 18’s to aid his coaching badges.
Vieira has recently said he was never offered a job by Arsenal and Seaman has always said he wanted to become a goalkeeping coach.
Adams is a bit of a looney so I can see why he hasn’t been offered a role and Keown, who was widely hailed with being the coach to our defense to the champions league final was quickly jettisoned the moment he received credit above Wenger.
So, building a new stadium and nearly doubling your capacity doesn’t show ambition? Buying Petr Cech, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez doesn’t show ambition? You’re always having a whinge John C. Why not just chill the fuck out and enjoy yourself?
Alex Ferguson won 13 league titles and 2 champions leagues while doubling old Trafford’s capacity and being saddled with £600-700m worth of debt, what’s your point?
And buying players that top teams no longer want isn’t ambition, ambition is buying the players they’re after!
I’m a tad worried by this. Wenger clearly regards him very highly in terms of his coaching potential (can’t think of any players who he’s had coaching youth teams whilst still being a first team player), and City can offer him a defined senior coaching role at club battling at the top of the table, under one of the most respected managers around and for a substantial salary. Guardiola probably also wants someone with a knowledge of the English game and I dare say coaching players who aren’t friends or recent teammates would be easier too. On a professional level… Read more »
Nothing to d story.
So Pep is still trying to steal Arsenal’s staff, whether playing or non-playing. Why doesn’t he just fuck off and steal Barcelona/Bayern staff?
Because Barcelona and Bayern actually act like big clubs, maybe?
You mean with the tax breaks from their government and the majority of television rights/income?
No he means by buying top quality players and not hoarding cash
Pep as a hair harvester reminds me of the Treehouse of Terror’s ‘Killer Toupée’ 🙂
Shit meter please!!
Back off, Pep.