Mikel Arteta spent five years with Arsenal as a player and now he will get to manage the club. He is taking over for Freddie Ljunberg, who replaced Unai Emery after he was sacked. Arteta was freed from Manchester City, where he was Guardiola's assistant, in order to take the position with the Gunners. He spoke at his press conference about his new challenge: "I’m extremely happy and proud to have been given the opportunity to be the manager of this football club. I've been preparing for a few years for this challenge to come. I know the expectations, I know the level and I know the stature of this club, and what it deserves. I can't wait to start working with the players."
From player to coach, he returns to Arsenal: "It's been four or five years ago in a different role and a different position, but it was always a dream for me on the day I left, and I made a decision to leave this football club, I said to the people that I am going outside, I'm going to learn, I am going to get prepared and hopefully one day I can come back here when I feel that I am ready to make that step."
Advice from Guardiola: "What I've learned mostly is that you have to be ruthless and you have to be consistent and you have to fit every day the culture of the club to create a winning mentality. But for me, the secret is that the people, the players and the staff, have to believe what they're trying to deliver. You have to be able to transmit it, and people will buy into that. When you do that, then you are a team and everybody's together and united you're stronger."
Guardiola also chimed in at his own press conference, saying: "When you have a dream you can't stop. Arsenal has been an important part of Mikel's career. One of the best clubs in England. I wish him all of the best. I am very sure he'll do a great job."
