Former Gunners midfielder Mikel Arteta has confirmed that he did consider leaving Manchester City to take the Arsenal job over the summer.

There was much speculation in the summer that Arteta would replace legend Arsene Wenger after the Frenchman finally decided to pack his bags and leave the Emirates after being forced by the club to exit after another disappointing campaign for Arsenal.

Reports even went as far to say that Arteta was one the verge of signing for Arsenal, before the board were convinced by Unai Emery that he was the man to lead the club into a new era, with the former PSG boss having more managerial experience than Arteta.

And now Arteta has insisted he is happy to continue as Pep Guardiola’s right-hand man, despite holding talks with Arsenal about the job.

Arteta said: ‘In football it’s so hard to predict things. Obviously, when things happen you have to make decisions – and sometimes you don’t have time to make decisions.

‘A decision was made and I’m so happy the decision was made and I’m very privileged to be where I am.

‘I didn’t talk on that moment two, three months ago, and I didn’t make any statement, and I don’t think today is the day to talk about it.

‘You all know something happened but the reality is that I am here and I am very happy.’

Here is what we think.

Arteta is learning great things under one of the greatest managers in the game right now and he will eventually get the experience to take that next step and head into management, but for now he was not the right man to lead the club.

Emery has proven on numerous occasions that he is a born winner and his ten trophies over the seasons prove that, so experience got the Spaniard the job over Arteta.