Before becoming Arsenal's head coach, Mikel Arteta was close to joining Newcastle United in the summer of 2019, according to reports. Newcastle made significant efforts to recruit the Spaniard months prior to his appointment at Arsenal.
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Additionally, it has emerged that Arsenal considered Mauricio Pochettino as a potential manager before ultimately hiring Arteta. The Telegraph reported that Arsenal had serious discussions with Pochettino regarding the managerial position just weeks after he was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur.
Arteta's hiring, following the dismissal of Unai Emery in late 2019, is viewed as a pivotal moment in Arsenal’s recent history. However, it is noted that the club's decision-makers were not immediately convinced that Arteta was the ideal candidate for the role.
Moreover, during a recent match against Nottingham Forest, Arteta praised the contributions of substitutes, including Noni Madueke, who scored the winning goal. Despite Arsenal's challenging start against Forest, they managed to secure a 1-0 victory, keeping them within three points of Premier League leaders Manchester City.