Mikel Arteta says he ‘absolutely loves’ being the head coach of Arsenal and is confident he will still be in management, preparing for a Boxing Day fixture, a decade down the line.
The 42-year-old Spaniard returned to Arsenal in December 2019, picking up the pieces from Unai Emery and his fellow countryman’s turbulent 18-month reign at the Emirates.
Over the last five years, Arteta has helped steer the Gunners back towards the top of the tree in the Premier League, while leading the club to silverware in both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup.
This season, Arsenal sit in third in the English top flight, six points behind league leaders Liverpool and two points adrift of second-placed Chelsea after 17 games.
After experiencing a concerning slump between October and November, there were signs that Arsenal could be returning to their best in a rampant 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace – and Arteta’s men will look to pick up where they left off against Ipswich in two days’ time.
However, the north London giants are set to be without star man Bukayo Saka over their busy winter schedule, with the England forward sidelined for several weeks due to a hamstring injury.
Sitting down for a wide-ranging chat with Sky Sports ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Ipswich, Arteta opened up his favourites memories of the festive period before revealing where he sees himself in ten years’ time.
Asked whether he sees himself getting ready for a Boxing Day fixture a decade down the line, he replied: ‘Yeah, in ten years… I’m 42 so will be 52. I think so.
‘If you still have the energy to do it…
‘If you asked me now, “Do you see that possibility?”, then I would say probably yes.’
Arteta added: ‘I love what I do.
‘It’s my choice at the end of the day to decide my profession and I decide to do this because I absolutely love it.
‘It’s got it’s things, yes, but for me the positives are far bigger.’
According to Arteta, Arsenal’s current crop of players must win major trophies on a consistent basis to be considered club legends in the future.
Asked if he thinks some of his Arsenal squad will have legendary status in ten years’ time, Arteta responded: ‘I hope so. But I think to get there you have to win major trophies consistently and that’s what takes you there.
‘We’ll have some records, maybe they are broken. Some records that we have broken were there for a long, long time at this football club.
‘And hopefully those individuals are getting recognised at that level because the club has done so well.’
On what will make him happy and fulfilled at the Christmas dinner table in ten years’ time, Arteta added: ‘That they want to be with me.
‘That my family and friends, I pick up the phone and they have the possibility to come to London, if we are here, or somewhere else and they decide to be sitting next to us and spending time with us.’
Will Arteta still be Arsenal’s manager in ten years?
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