Mikel Arteta drops 'impossible' comment when asked if he'd manage any PL club other than Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has said that he doesn't foresee managing any other Premier League club in the immediate future. The Spaniard has been at the helm at the Emirates since late 2019.

Succeeding his compatriot Unai Emery, Arteta has made the Gunners a Premier League contender, especially in the last two seasons, finishing behind champions Manchester City both times.

Arteta's side are right in the mix for the title as the midway point of the current season approaches. After 16 games, they trail leaders Liverpool (36) by six points, having played a game more.

On the completion of five years as the Gunners boss on Friday (December 20), Arteta said about envisaging managing another PL club (as per Standard):

“At the moment, impossible. I have very limited energy because I put all of it into this football club, to the players and the staff to give my very best. And that’s my only ambition, to make this club more successful.

“I think you have to live in the present in this job. Obviously you have to plan for what is coming in the mid and long term, that’s for sure, and we have a lot of conversations regarding that."

He continued:

“I think the energy has to be in the moment, paying attention to every detail and understanding how things are working, putting more processes in place to make better decisions and obviously have that aim to keep everybody fit, to get the best out of them and make sure that they feel part of what we do.”

The Spaniard said about the initial challenges of managing at Arsenal.

“Probably when I arrived I was very, very obsessed with the tactical aspect of the game, and then straight away two or three months after I took the job, I realised that there were no tactics to do, we were sitting at home with Covid.

Arteta has won an FA Cup and the FA Community Shield at the Emirates.

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What's next for Arsenal?

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta

Arsenal are riding a nine-game unbeaten streak across competitions, winning six. Their latest victory - 3-2 at home to Crystal Palace in midweek - put them into the EFL Cup semi-final.

The Gunners take on the same opponents next - this time away in the Premier League on Saturday (December 21). Arteta's side have drawn their last two league games.

Since beating Manchester United 2-0 at home at the start of the month, the Gunners drew 1-1 at Fulham before Everton held them to a goalless draw at the Emirates.