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It’s been more than a year since Mikel Arteta became Arsenal’s manager and the Spaniard helped the Gunners win the FA Cup and the Community Shield in 2020.

Although the north London side are nowhere near challenging for the title this term, their manager has emerged as one of the candidates to replace Ronald Koeman at Barcelona.

This was reported by RAC1 on Monday, who stated that Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta intends to appoint the 38-year-old as the next manager of the Catalan club.

It was also explained Arteta working as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City was key for Laporta to consider the Arsenal coach for the Camp Nou job.

This report, however, has been dismissed by Rafa Yuste, a member of Laporta’s camp, who will be included on the new Barcelona board if the latter gets elected as president. 

“I completely deny it. I know that Mikel Arteta is a great coach, a friend of Pep, but I have not spoken with him. And we convey all our confidence in Koeman,” Yuste told Esports COPE, as relayed by Mundo Deporitvo.

Yuste’s comments on Arteta should come as a relief for the north London club and their supporters.

Laporta will battle with Víctor Font and Tony Freixa to become the new Barcelona president and the election will take place later this week.