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Arteta: Links to Barcelona are FAKE NEWS

29 Jan 2024

Arsenal manager 'really upset' about reports that he plans to take over at Camp Nou

Mikel Arteta has strongly refuted claims that he will become Barcelona's next manager, saying the report linking him to the job "is totally fake news".

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, the Arsenal manager was considering leaving the Gunners to replace current Barcelona boss Xavi, who announced on Saturday that he is stepping down at the end of the season.

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"Who, me? No, that’s totally fake news," said Arteta on the club's official website ahead of Arsenal's trip to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night.

"What you read yesterday, I don’t know where it’s coming from. It’s totally untrue and I’m really upset about it.

"I could not believe it. I don’t know where it’s coming from, it’s got no sources, it’s got nothing and I think we have to be very cautious when we talk about personal things, to put it in the way that it was put yesterday.

Club News Every word of Mikel's pre-Forest press conference External Link

Every word of Mikel's pre-Forest press conference

"I’m in the right place. I’m with the right people, I feel really good about it and, as I said many times, I’m immersed in a beautiful journey with this football club, these players, this staff and our people and I’m investing still a lot for them."

Asked about his contract with Arsenal, which runs until the end of the 2024/25 season, Arteta said: "I’ve got a strong relationship with the board, with Edu, the team, with ownership.

"Things come in a natural way and we’ve always done it that way and it’s been done really well. When the time is right we’ll have those discussions and I’ll think about the best way to do that.

"There is a lot to do here as well, we all share that ambition, and you can feel it as well that we want more.

"We’re not satisfied, and the club wants to take another push and another level in everything that we’re doing. This is where we are, everybody on board to achieve it and I’m certainly on board."

Arsenal sit third in the Premier League, five points behind leaders Liverpool, with a crunch match between the clubs looming at Emirates Stadium this Sunday.