After helping Arsenal win the FA Cup and the Community Shield in 2022, there was a lot of expectation for Mikel Arteta to improve the Gunners’ form in the league.
That didn’t happen as they finished eighth in the table.
With that, Arsenal failed to qualify for the newly formed UEFA Europa Conference League, failing to make it to any sort of European competition for the first time in over two decades.
Despite the north London club’s struggles under Arteta this season, his style of football and philosophy has not gone unnoticed.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Spaniard is one of the alternatives currently under consideration at Barcelona, if they decide to part ways with Ronald Koeman.
Xavi, who is currently managing Qatari side Al Sadd, remains the main target to replace the former Everton manager.
Apart from Xavi, Mundo explain other managerial candidates ‘have been studied’, and among them is Arteta.
There’s a ‘real endorsement’ at Barca for the north London club’s manager, who has worked as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Belgium coach Robert Martínez is also under consideration.
For now, the possibility of Arteta leaving Arsenal for Barca looks slim since he’s not the main managerial target for the Camp Nou side, if Koeman leaves.
Mundo state the managerial decision will be ‘solely and exclusively’ taken by Barcelona president Joan Laporta.
