Mikel Arteta has admitted he is “upset” after “fake” rumours emerged linking him with replacing Xavi at Barcelona in the summer.
Xavi confirmed after Barca’s 5-3 defeat against Villarreal on Saturday that he will leave the club at the end of the season – less than 12 months since winning the La Liga title. However, the Catalan side now sit fourth, 11 points behind leaders Girona and Xavi has decided to step down this summer.
Reports in Spain then suggested on Sunday that Arteta would join Barcelona and replace Xavi. However, speaking ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Nottingham Forest, Arteta shut down those rumours and branded them as “fake”, claiming he is currently in the “right place”.
Arteta said: “No. 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 quizzed on why he was upset with the links to Barcelona, 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.”
Arsenal are convinced the Spaniard is happy at the Emirates and is committed to the long-term project, despite having less than 18 months left on his current contract. Arteta has turned the Gunners into Premier League title contenders in recent years after taking over from Unai Emery in 2019.
Although Arsenal finished eighth in Arteta’s first full season at the helm, the 41-year-old then guided them to an improved fifth-place finish before tabling a Premier League title bid. The Gunners ended up falling short last season, finishing second behind winners Manchester City.
This season, the Gunners have not been as consistent and sit third in the table, having won 13 of their 21 top-flight matches so far. Arteta’s men five points adrift of leaders Liverpool but are still firmly in the fight for their first Premier League title since 2004. In the Champions League, Arsenal face Porto in the last 16 after easing through their group, while the Gunners are out of both of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.