Mikel Arteta reveals moment he decided he wanted to become Arsenal manager

• Mikel Arteta reveals the moment he knew he wanted to be manager of Arsenal.

  

Mikel Arteta recalls a game versus Arsenal that inspired the former Manchester City assistant to work his magic at the Emirates Stadium.

Prior to Arteta’s arrival, Arsenal were in a rut and struggling to qualify for the Champions League, whilst his City side was consistently flying at the top of the Premier League.

Arteta became aware of the challenges at the Emirates at a meeting with Arsenal shortly before joining the club and swore to assist his old club recovery.

“This started three years ago,” Arteta explained to Marca. “I was Pep’s assistant at City, we played against Arsenal and I saw that the soul of the club had been lost. You couldn’t enjoy it, you couldn’t feel it.

“I knew that there was the option of, shortly after, being on the other bench and I knew that this club is so big that you had to connect the team with the fans. It has been hard to do and undo… and now I feel happy.

“We have a clear identity, there is union and we are full of energy. That’s the biggest. From top to bottom, they all push in the same direction. We give the fan something to dream about and be proud of. And now, you have to earn more.”

Arsenal’s decline had begun towards the end of the Arsene Wenger era at the Emirates and Arteta spoke of the need to go back to basics to revert the downward spiral.

“It was very clear. I drew a tree and its roots, and said that the problem was ours,” he explained.

“All that had to be cured, and cured with people who got involved. Without it, there would be no public entertainment.”