Arsenal held serious talks with Pochettino before handing Arteta his first managerial role in 2019

Arsenal held substantive talks with Mauricio Pochettino over becoming their manager in late 2019, before ultimately handing the job to Mikel Arteta, who had no prior managerial experience at the time. The revelation, reported by the Telegraph, sheds new light on the search that followed Unai Emery’s sacking and shaped the club’s subsequent trajectory.

Emery was dismissed in the autumn of 2019, little more than a year after being appointed to succeed Arsène Wenger. His departure left the Emirates hierarchy scrambling for a replacement, and Pochettino — sacked by Tottenham just ten days earlier — emerged as a genuine option. Despite the obvious complications of a move across North London so soon after leaving Spurs, Pochettino showed a willingness to engage, though the discussions ultimately came to nothing.

Arsenal’s shortlist was extensive and included some of the most decorated managers in European football. Carlo Ancelotti, a multiple Champions League winner, was considered, as was Massimiliano Allegri, who had just completed a fifth consecutive Serie A title with Juventus. Julian Nagelsmann, then newly installed at RB Leipzig, was among the younger candidates evaluated.

Patrick Vieira also featured in conversations. The former Arsenal captain was managing Nice at the time, and his connection to sporting director Edu — a former team-mate — gave him a degree of inside support. Roberto Martínez advanced further in the process; the Spaniard brought Premier League experience from his spells at Wigan and Everton, though he was leading Belgium’s national team at the time. Portuguese coach Vítor Pereira, who would later manage Wolves and Nottingham Forest, was also on the initial list.

In the end, Arsenal chose Arteta, whose only coaching experience had come as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City. The decision was a significant gamble, but one that has since been vindicated. Arteta has transformed Arsenal into consistent Premier League title contenders and guided the club back into the upper echelons of European football.