When Arsenal appointed Unai Emery to succeed Arsene Wenger in 2018, Mikel Arteta’s name was the next most discussed among the Arsenal executives making the choice.
Ivan Gazidis, Raul Sanllehi and Sven Mislintat made that momentous decision. All three have since left the club.
Gazidis, who had been close to Arteta when the Spaniard played for Arsenal and was impressed by his attitude, brought his name into the discussion but there was consensus that it was too soon for Arteta. ‘It would have been a pretty bold decision to appoint a successor to Arsene who had never coached a game,’ said one source familiar with the trio’s discussions.