Following the announcement by Liverpool manager Judge Klopp, and his counterpart at Barcelona, Xavi Hernandez, that they will quit their post at the end of the current football season in June, Mikel Arteta has assured Arsenal’s faithful that he has no plans to leave the London club.
Reports in Spain have suggested the Gunners boss intends to step down in the summer, with a number of outlets linking him to the Barcelona job despite being contracted to Arsenal until the summer of 2025.
Spanish publication Diario AS reported that the Spaniard had informed his entourage that he was open to exiting the Emirates following the conclusion of the current campaign, amid ongoing links to the post at Barcelona.
On Saturday, Xavi announced he would be stepping down as Barcelona head coach at the end of the season.
Xavi announced the decision to leave after Barcelona lost 5-3 at home to Villarreal, conceding twice in added time at the Nou Camp. The result leaves them 11 points off La Liga leaders Girona.
Arteta, 41, replaced Unai Emery at Arsenal, taking a senior managerial role for the first time in his career.
Before taking the job, Arteta had been working as a member of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at Manchester City, a role he took up upon retiring from playing in the summer of 2016.
As a manager to date, he has won 124 of his 210 matches as Arsenal boss
