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Mikel Arteta was among at least eight serious candidates Arsenal evaluated to succeed Unai Emery in 2019, according to a newly published book.
The former midfielder had previously been in the frame following Arsène Wenger's exit in 2018, but the Gunners chose the well-established credentials of serial Europa League champion Unai Emery. That venture collapsed after just 18 months, compelling Arsenal to compile a fresh list of potential replacements.
Having relied on a single manager for 22 years, the Gunners were now hunting their second permanent head coach in under 18 months. Then-sporting director Edu Gaspar searched extensively, as detailed by The Telegraph's Sam Dean in his new book, Arsenal: The Inside Story of Arsenal's Rebirth Under Mikel Arteta.
Arteta was initially regarded as sitting "closer to the lower end" of the shortlist, with candidates ranging from established elite managers to fierce rivals being considered.
What Happened to the Managers on Arsenal's Shortlist
Mikel Arteta
Process complete. pic.twitter.com/URvfCP0IFk
Arteta had no managerial experience to draw on during the interview process, relying only on a respectable playing career in north London and a trophy-filled stint as Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City.
Nevertheless, Arteta had been preparing for a career in management since the age of 26, when a torn ACL sidelined him at Everton. The intensely driven coach succeeded in conveying his burning ambition during a meeting with Edu at his home.
"I spoke to him about the squad, the culture, the strategy and everything that I had thought in my six months inside the club," Edu told Dean. "And Mikel was extremely prepared for the conversation. He was prepared to such a level that it felt like he was inside the club already. He presented and spoke about everything. Everything.
"It was extremely impressive, the way he presented his strategy, the way he was seeing the club and also the excitement he had to start the project. I was like: 'Wow, this guy is prepared—to the next level.'"
Mauricio Pochettino
This is arguably the most startling revelation in the report. Just weeks after being dismissed by Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal's deeply despised rivals, Mauricio Pochettino was reportedly engaged in "serious conversations" about taking charge on the opposite side of north London.
The Argentine manager would later move to another London club, spending a single season at Chelsea, though that came nearly four years after his Spurs departure. Given the prolonged difficulties the club has faced in recent seasons, Pochettino has largely been forgiven for that controversial move by Tottenham supporters, and he openly expressed a desire to return to the Premier League throughout much of his tenure as U.S. men's national team manager.
Carlo Ancelotti
Don Carlo keeps his head, when all around are losing theirs. pic.twitter.com/y342UYCjZz
Carlo Ancelotti found himself at a career crossroads in the winter of 2019. The decorated title-winner had been worn down by the pressures at Napoli and was open to opportunities outside the absolute top tier. That was evidenced by his subsequent decision to join Everton, where he watched from the same stands as Arteta as their two newly appointed sides played out a dull goalless draw neither manager wished to be associated with.
It was during a casual phone call to his former club Real Madrid regarding potential loan players that the subject of the vacant dugout arose. "'If no players,' I said, 'Could you use a new manager?'" Ancelotti would later recall. "'Do you know anybody?' came the response. 'Do you not remember what we did in 2014?' I responded. There was a silence."
Florentino Pérez was persuaded, and Ancelotti went on to claim another league title and Champions League with Real Madrid in 2024. The Brazil national team was even more aggressive in its pursuit of the shrewd Italian, who eventually took the reins shortly before the 2026 World Cup. So far, the results have fallen well short of his second stint in Spain.
Patrick Vieira
Unlike Arteta, Patrick Vieira brought genuine managerial experience to complement his storied playing career in Arsenal red. The former New York City FC and Nice boss was ultimately passed over by the Gunners before earning his Premier League opportunity with Crystal Palace in 2021.
Vieira guided Palace to a 12th-place Premier League finish while also steering them to the FA Cup semifinals in his first season. However, he failed to complete his second campaign, suffering a 13-match winless streak before his sudden departure. In a fitting twist, Arteta's Arsenal delivered the final blow with a 4–1 victory at the Emirates.
Roberto Martinez
It is something of a small miracle that Roberto Martínez did not land the Arsenal job. Few in the sport are more persuasive communicators than the former Wigan Athletic and Everton manager, who has repeatedly left press gatherings charmed by his eloquent words despite frequently underwhelming performances on the field.
Martínez was overseeing Belgium's much-celebrated Golden Generation at the time, remaining in post until a group-stage elimination at the 2022 World Cup finally brought his disappointing reign to a close. Undeterred by the squandered potential, Portugal handed Martínez responsibility for its promising young talent, only for the Spanish tactician to insist on constructing the entire system around a declining Cristiano Ronaldo.
Vítor Pereira
The fact that Vítor Pereira was even in contention while managing in the Chinese top flight at the time speaks volumes about the breadth of Edu's search. The winding career of the fiery Portuguese coach would eventually bring him to the Premier League, where he first kept Wolverhampton Wanderers afloat before achieving the same feat at Nottingham Forest.
Julian Nagelsmann
Julian Nagelsmann was the most coveted managerial name in 2019. The youngest permanent head coach in Bundesliga history was in the midst of reshaping RB Leipzig's established playing identity.
Bayern Munich eventually took a chance on the gifted tactician, though his unconventional tendencies ultimately proved incompatible with the demands of the European giant. Nagelsmann's sacking in 2023 followed reports that his habit of skateboarding around the training facility had not been well received.
Poor results and a listless round of 32 defeat against Paraguay ultimately forced his exit from the Germany job during the 2026 World Cup.
Massimiliano Allegri
Just one day before Arsenal officially confirmed Arteta's appointment, Massimiliano Allegri sat down for an interview with ESPN in which he disclosed that he owned neither a laptop nor a desktop computer and had always disregarded statistical data. "I always tell my assistants to look at how the players move their legs, not the computer," he stated.
This strikingly outdated outlook meant Allegri spent two years away from management before returning to the club that had previously employed him, Juventus.
Having claimed four consecutive Serie A titles during the Bianconeri's era of domestic supremacy, Allegri has yet to replicate that success, consistently producing a grimly functional brand of football that would make Arteta's pragmatic approach resemble peak Barcelona by comparison.