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Arteta reveals he wanted to exit Arsenal after losing title to Manchester City
Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, has revealed that he contemplated his future at the Emirates Stadium following the team’s disappointing loss of the Premier League title to Manchester City last season.
The Gunners came close to ending their 19-year wait for the title, leading the league and staying on top for over 240 days.
However, their hopes were shattered due to a late collapse, winning only three of their last nine games. Manchester City eventually clinched the title for the third consecutive year.
Speaking to GQ Magazine, Arteta opened up about the emotional impact of losing out to his mentor, Pep Guardiola, and how it deeply affected him. The setback caused him to reflect on his position as Arsenal’s manager and contemplate walking away from the role.
“The first few weeks were very tough, because I went through it.
“The first thing you have to do is look in the mirror and understand, ‘ok, is there something you should have done better, differently?’ And if that’s the case, learn from it.
“And then judge yourself: ‘Are you still the right person to drive the club, the team, forward in the way that you want and do you have that energy and that belief that you want to do it?’
“I think it took a big reflection but the answer is ‘yes’ and I feel with a lot of energy and positivity. But I don’t like losing and it takes me a while, and that was a tough moment,” he said.