9 months ago
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Mikel Arteta will STAY at Arsenal despite reports linking him with a departure in the summer, talkSPORT understands.
It was reported in Spanish media on Sunday that Arteta could be on his way out of the Emirates Stadium in the summer with the Barcelona job set to become vacant.
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Meanwhile, it was also suggested that the Spaniard had had a conversation with the powers that be at Arsenal over a departure.
But talkSPORT understands that everyone involved is relaxed about the situation with Arteta contracted at the north London club until 2025.
The reports in Spain have also been firmly denied by Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, who insists Arteta intends to stay at Arsenal.
"Arsenal fans can relax," Balague said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Mikel Arteta not only didn't have a chat with his staff about leaving at the end of the season, he has no intention to leave either. None of that is true.
"The club denies there was any meeting regarding leaving the club.
"Mikel is building something special at #AFC and has lots more to do.
"He has a press conference tomorrow [Monday] and I am sure you will hear that from him too."
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The links with the Barca job gathered momentum after current manager Xavi said he will be leaving at the end of the season.
In a press conference after Barcelona's 5-3 defeat to Villarreal on Saturday, Xavi said: "Before you ask me the pertinent questions, I want to announce that as of June 30, I will not continue as Barça coach." he began his press conference.
Barcelona manager Xavi loses his cool as he shouts at the camera following VAR decision
"Precisely, I don't know if I have explained myself well, this decision relaxes the general situation.
"I feel the most responsible, I think things have worked very well, a very good job has been done but I think our project should be until the 30th June.
"I think it will free the players and ease the general situation of the club.
"I have had the decision made for days and in some way I have freed myself.
"What I see is that it does not free the situation of the players and the board, and it does not I want to be a hindrance to the club, I want to always be a solution, I never want to be a problem.
"I was a solution two years and three months ago but now, thinking with my heart and thinking about the club, for which I want the best, the best is that I leave on June 30.
"I thank the president for his trust. We have a president who is amazing, both he and Rafa and Alejandro are very true to their word and I think this will de-escalate the situation.
"If we had won 3-2, maybe I wouldn't have said it today, but maybe next week, it was about finding the moment, I had decided on it for a long time."
But Arteta looks set to continue his journey with Arsenal having succeeded Unai Emery as Gunners boss in December 2019.
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He won the FA Cup in the 2019/20 season while also scooping the Community Shield in August 2020 and earlier this campaign.
Arteta's side came second in the Premier League last term, losing out on the title to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
Arsenal are currently third in the top flight and are still in the Champions League with their next outing seeing them face Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night.
