The Arsenal manager was asked about the possibility of replacing Ronald Koeman as the new FC Barcelona boss.
Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal is his ‘only focus’ in response to the chance of a return to Barcelona.
The hot seat over at Camp Nou is available after Barcelona fired manager Ronald Koeman. The decision came following a 1-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday, leaving the club down in ninth in La Liga.
Blaugrana icon Xavi Hernandez is the favorite to succeed Koeman. The Catalan is reportedly keen on the job. Barcelona just need to release him from his contract with Al Sadd, and then they can proceed to finalize his return.
But Arteta, who began his career at Barcelona and was linked with the manager’s job earlier in the year, is perfectly happy where he is.
🗣 "I'm extremely happy at Arsenal, I feel privileged to be here."
Mikel Arteta is asked about the situation at Barcelona and the rumours linking him to the vacancy pic.twitter.com/uLYV3323O7
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 29, 2021
“I’m extremely happy at Arsenal and I feel privileged to be here and my only focus is here,” said the Gunners boss in a press conference on Friday afternoon.
On the situation in Catalonia, Arteta continued: “There’s been a lot going on in the last few years. Obviously, how Covid has affected the way that you have to overcome a situation like the departure of [Lionel] Messi, who has been the key player for many, many years and all that takes time. We will see. I just hope that everything works out well.”
Arteta and Arsenal return to action on Saturday away to Leicester City in the Premier League.
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