BBC pundit says there’s something ‘interesting’ about Mikel Arteta to Barcelona rumours

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was recently linked with a shock move to Barcelona at the end of the season, but he has strongly denied the rumours.

We were recently told that Arsenal are confident they can tie the Spaniard down to a new deal, but the links between Arteta and the club where he began his playing career have raised an interesting point about his long-term plans.

Whilst his actions so far have reflected his commitment to a long-term project at Arsenal, at 41 he is still very young for a manager, and a tenure in North London as long as Arsene Wenger’s seems unlikely.

BBC pundit Chris Sutton has now claimed that Arteta could one day end up moving to Barcelona, with recent links highlighting the connection he has to the La Liga giants.

Chris Sutton claims Arteta could end up at Barcelona

Speaking on BBC Five Live Sport, Sutton highlighted that Arteta’s current contract only has 18 months left to run amid the links to Barcelona.

“I don’t think it’s any big deal,” he stated of the recent links.

“There’s too much been made of it. He has been linked with it, naturally, he can just say no I am staying at Arsenal and just focusing on Arsenal.

“It’s not going to derail him. He’ll be flattered really. He’ll love it inside. Eventually, he’ll probably end up at Barcelona. He only has 18 months left on his contract which is a really interesting thing I think.”

Arsenal should not be worried by Barcelona links to Arteta

Arteta’s status as a former Barcelona player, as well as one of the best young managers in the world, meant that links were always going to happen as soon as Xavi Hernandez announced he would step down at the end of the season.

Even if one day, Arteta ends up at Barcelona, it will be hard to see him leaving before he completes his project at Arsenal, which he began in 2019.

Although he has made some mistakes, he is an incredibly popular figure at the Emirates and rightly so. He took over an Arsenal side which was close to rock bottom under Unai Emery, and turned them into title contenders.

For now, it seems that he will sign a new deal at Arsenal and extend his stay, with the hope that he can guide the Gunners to major silverware in the next few seasons.