Mikel Arteta was close to accepting an offer from Newcastle United in the summer of 2019, but ultimately rejected then-owner Mike Ashley's managerial approach, according to a new book by Telegraph journalist Sam Dean.
Months before Arteta was appointed by Arsenal, he was extremely close to taking a position at another Premier League club. Unbeknownst to the public, Newcastle United made a strong push to recruit the Spaniard in the summer of 2019.
Club owner Ashley had made it clear to staff that he wanted Arteta as the new head coach and was willing to offer an exceptionally long contract—far exceeding what a rookie coach would typically receive—to persuade him to move to St. James' Park.
Arteta was tempted. Newcastle United is one of the great clubs in English football, with incredibly passionate fans, and in many ways, it was the perfect opportunity for a coach of Arteta's age and experience. The previous season, Newcastle United finished 13th in the Premier League, 11 points above the relegation zone. On paper, at least, the team had room for improvement without excessive concern about a relegation battle.
Why did Arteta, after serious consideration, ultimately decline? Only he can answer, but there were certainly some challenging factors at the time. First, departing manager Rafael Benítez was immensely popular among Newcastle United fans, while Ashley was a deeply unpopular owner. For any coach, succeeding Benítez was bound to be daunting—and the fans' sentiment meant that if the new manager started slowly, patience would be hard to come by.
The squad also had issues. In the summer of 2019, Newcastle United sold striker Ayoze Pérez to Leicester City and also parted ways with Salomón Rondón, who had been named the club's Player of the Year during his loan spell from West Brom the previous season. Pérez and Rondón combined for 23 of Newcastle United's 42 Premier League goals in the 2018-19 season. After losing these two forwards, the squad appeared thin.
Arteta had also not yet assembled his coaching staff. It is believed that due to his strong interest in Newcastle United's offer, he tried to recruit key figures, but the timing was not right for the people he truly wanted. Ultimately, to the frustration of Newcastle United and Ashley, he declined. Months later, Newcastle United's loss became Arsenal's gain.
Week after week, month after month, season after season, Arteta has demonstrated an ability to generate fresh ideas and convey his message while transforming the dressing room atmosphere. A long-time colleague of Arteta said that the Spaniard's "unique talent" was not tactical expertise, but his ability to repeatedly inspire players to give more.
These pre-match talks and team-building activities are central to Arteta's coaching philosophy. Preventing match preparation from becoming stale is crucial during a long and demanding season.
Arteta constantly devises new ways to keep things fresh and ensure players' minds remain engaged. He describes himself as relentlessly searching for the next innovation that will "touch" the team. Fundamentally, the goal is to create the right energy and emotion within the club while igniting the players' competitive desire.
One of the most memorable examples of this creativity was when Arsenal players arrived for a pre-match meeting to find the kitchen cabinets cleared out. All the frying pans and saucepans were laid out, along with various balls, for an impromptu table tennis tournament. Instead of gentle stretching before a big game, the players were bouncing around, hitting balls with frying pans, and competing fiercely against each other.
Other activities Arteta has used for these motivational sessions include dodgeball and "spot the difference" games. He has also created card games featuring images of players from Arsenal's next opponents.
The complex process of signing Riccardo Calafiori in the summer of 2024 demonstrates how crucial timing can be in a major transfer. Arsenal had tracked Calafiori for months while he was excelling at Bologna and were prepared to make a move regardless of his performance at Euro 2024.
Calafiori then shone for Italy at the Euros, impressing with his attacking style and defensive resilience. This was a double-edged sword. The good news for Arsenal was that it confirmed Calafiori's quality. The bad news was that other European powerhouses suddenly became interested in signing the long-haired, tenacious defender.
Real Madrid and Chelsea were both interested, making Arsenal's task more challenging and driving up the price. Chelsea even contacted Bologna to inquire about Calafiori while the Italian was meeting with Arsenal.
Part of the reason Arsenal had to wait until after the Euros to sign Calafiori was the strict financial constraints they faced in the summer of 2024. "It had to be one in, one out," said then-assistant sporting director Jason Ayto. "Emile Smith Rowe had to go to Fulham for Calafiori to come in. Eddie Nketiah's move to Crystal Palace was linked with Mikel Merino. We did a lot of work on Calafiori before the Euros. It was just a matter of timing. We couldn't move earlier due to financial restrictions."
AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com