Mikel Arteta was high on Newcastle United’s wanted list last summer when Rafa Benitez departed Tyneside as boss.
The Magpies were believed to have made an official approach for the Spaniard, but he decided to stay put at Manchester City as No 2 to Pep Guardiola.
It now appears he was holding out for his dream job as Arsenal manager - the role he has landed this week.
After being appointed Arteta said: “This is a huge honour. Arsenal is one of the biggest clubs in the world.
“We need to be competing for the top trophies in the game and that’s been made very clear to me in my discussions with Stan and Josh Kroenke, and the senior people from the club.
“We all know there is a lot of work to be done to achieve that but I am confident we’ll do it.
“I’m realistic enough to know it won’t happen overnight but the current squad has plenty of talent and there is a great pipeline of young players coming through from the academy.”
Newcastle in front on the TV cameras at the Emirates on Sunday, February 16.
