Manchester City and Barcelona to go up against each other in their pursuit of Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

According to TEAMtalk, Spanish giants Barcelona will face competition from Premier League champions Manchester City in their pursuit of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

The 40-year-old has been in charge at the Emirates since 2019 and has steadily enhanced his reputation as a top-level manager. The Gunners have enjoyed a fine start to the 2022/23 season and are top of the Premier League. This has seen him attract attention from two of European football’s top clubs.

Barcelona are currently in the midst of a rebuild and have done a decent job under Xavi Hernandez. However, they are still miles off the other teams at the top table of European football. This was exemplified by their early exit from the UEFA Champions League.

With the club underperforming under Xavi, the club might look towards another former La Masia graduate. Arteta has shown himself not just to get his side to play good football but also to promote the youth players from within the ranks In many ways, it reflects the ethos that the Blaugrana had once been synonymous with.

Arteta to move to Barcelona or Arsenal? (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Now TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey has revealed that the 40-year-old is also attracting attention from another former side, Manchester City. Arteta served as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at the Etihad for three years before taking up the main job at Arsenal.

Guardiola is the undisputed first choice at Manchester City, and it is difficult to see the club parting ways with him. However, should the Spaniard move on, the English champions could turn their attention to Arteta.

Given that the Gunners boss was trained under Guardiola, he could prove to be an astute appointment. More so, he derives several tactics from his former mentor and could ensure a semblance of continuity both in terms of playing style and tactics.

Arteta still has a long way to go this season. The loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup showed there is still much work to be done in north London. Should Arsenal end the season on top of the Premier League standings, Arteta might very well see one of the interested parties speed up their efforts to sign him.

For now, immortality awaits him at the Emirates, and his attentions are very much focused on the upcoming January transfer window and a decisive second half of the campaign. 

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