Arsenal are set to face Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium tonight, in a clash which could see The Gunners temporarily move three points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta will be facing a familiar figure as Mauricio Pochettino returns to the Emirates for the first time since he was manager of heated rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Pochettino is under pressure at Chelsea, with his side struggling in ninth place, and there are plenty of players who will come under focus tonight. Mykhalyo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo nearly joined Arsenal before moving to Stamford Bridge, whilst Kai Havertz and Jorginho will be facing their former club.
Arteta and Pochettino actually played together at Paris Saint-Germain in the past, and the Spaniard has now praised his opposite number for the influence he had on his career.
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Mikel Arteta praises Mauricio Pochettino for career inspiration
Speaking via The Independent ahead of the clash between the two sides, Arteta revealed how Pochettino had helped him settle as a youngster when he arrived at PSG.
“He’s one of the most (influential people in his career),” Arteta stated of Pochettino.
“I was 17 or 18 in Paris with no experience in professional football. He doesn’t like me saying it but to me he was like a father, he took me under his arm, he gave me incredible advice and protected me, he inspired me and I learned so much in our two years together.”
Mikel Arteta could have joined Mauricio Pochettino’s coaching staff after Arsenal exit
Arteta joined Pep Guardiola at Manchester City after retiring from football in 2016, where he developed his coaching skills before returning to Arsenal in 2019.
However, he could have made a controversial move to Spurs to join Pochettino, asit was reported at the time that Pochettino was keen on bringing the then-Arsenal captain to the other side of North London.
“When I had to make a decision I asked him and explained the situation and he gave me some advice and he was needed,” Arteta added now.
“I admire what he’s done in his career and he’s someone I’ve looked to because he was impactful to me in the most important stage of my career. As a role model I can’t pick anyone better.
“He doesn’t need to help me about tactics. The best influence he has had on me is the way he speaks about his life, his professionalism, his family and who he was as a figure in the dressing room and the passion and love he has for the game.”
Should he have joined Pochettino at Spurs, there is little chance that he would have gone on to become Arsenal manager, but it is clear that Arteta has a lot of respect for the Chelsea coach regardless of allegiances.