Since retiring as a professional footballer in the summer of 2016, Mikel Arteta has kept his head down, learning every day under the tutelage of his close friend and mentor, the Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. Now, however, he emerges out of the shadows and into the scorching spotlight of life as Arsenal manager.



Midway through his first season at City, he sat down with The Athletic’s Adam Crafton for the only extensive English-language interview about his own life and career he has granted since retiring. In an adapted version of that interview, he talks about working under Arsene Wenger, the pressures provided by modern fandom, Guardiola’s philosophy, how close he really came to playing for England… and a lifetime of risks, starting with his upbringing at La Masia and emerging as a key figure for Arsenal following moves to Paris Saint-Germain, Rangers and Everton.



Shifting forward and sipping a glass of water, Mikel Arteta pauses for...