RIVALS' RESPECT! What Arteta’s adversaries think about Arsenal boss as new contract 'agreed' with defending champions

Mikel Arteta has agreed a new deal with Arsenal in a move that will be welcomed by the Gunners - but not their rivals. The Spanish coach was appointed in 2019 as a replacement for Unai Emery and has done some brilliant work with the north London side.

He has completely reversed the club’s fortunes over recent years to take them from mid-table to the Premier League title. Arteta has also restored Arsenal at the top of the European game, having led them to the Champions League final last term.

With Arteta now set to remain with the club for the foreseeable future, his rivals will now have to continue mulling over their attempts to get the better of him.

But what have they already said? Mirror Football takes a trawl through some past interviews and press conferences to find out exactly what they think of the Arsenal boss.

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To get it, it's a quick and easy one-two:

1. Head THIS WAY

Let’s start with someone who knows Arteta very well: Xabi Alonso. The two Spaniards are childhood friends and have embarked on very similar careers, with glittering playing stints in the Premier League, while they have now turned to management.

They have already locked horns this season, with the Gunners running out 2-1 winners in the Premier League earlier this month.

Speaking ahead of that game, Alonso praised his friend for his work at the Emirates and vowed that they would never think differently of each other despite now being direct rivals.

He said: “No, it [their relationship] won't change. Our friendship and mutual respect won't change because of competition, because the system he's built at Arsenal is truly remarkable, and it's a long-term process.”

Alonso is not the only close friend that Arteta has in the Premier League. Current Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola also grew up alongside the pair in the Basque region of Spain.

And he has already played quite a crucial role in his career so far, with his former side Bournemouth having held Manchester City last season to hand the Gunners the title.

Iraola claimed that it was just the reward that both Arteta and Arsenal deserved after a number of near misses.

Speaking at the time, he said: “Happy for him because I think he has done an incredible job there. For a lot of seasons very consistent. Sometimes he has been so close, the reward has probably come in the right moment."

Another top-flight manager who is well-acquainted with Arteta is Manchester United boss Michael Carrick. The pair faced off on a number of occasions during their playing careers and have already sparred on the touchline.

They at first clashed back in the 2021/22 season, with Carrick overseeing an interim role at United. He was successful on that occasion with a 3-2 win and repeated that result last term.

Regardless, Carrick remains a big fan of Arteta and the work he has done in north London. He said: ''I think he's done a very good job at Arsenal and you can see they're going in a certain direction and been pretty strong with that.

''He was a terrific player, very technical, and that’s the way his teams plays and obviously the way he has coached them in that style shows what type of player he was.''

Arteta’s longevity at the Emirates Stadium is a huge departure from his predecessor Unai Emery. The Spaniard was afforded just 18 months in north London after replacing Arsene Wenger.

And that decision looks to have been for the betterment of both Arsenal and Emery - the pair having thrived apart.

The now Aston Villa coach has praised his compatriot for steering the ship back on course. He said: “The work Arteta is doing there now is brilliant and he’s doing more or less everything I was thinking needed to be done there.”

There was a brief flashpoint between the two when Emery chose not to shake Arteta’s hand after a game but that does not appear to have caused a lasting issue since then.

One of Arteta’s main rivals this season looks to be Enzo Maresca. The Italian has replaced both his and Arteta’s former tutor Pep Guardiola at the Etihad and will be expected to put together a title charge throughout the season.

Speaking about the pair’s learnings under Guardiola, Maresca said: “Probably we [himself and Arteta] both have to be thankful because we worked besides and next to the one that I consider the best manager in the world. Probably we both have been quite lucky to work with Pep."

While Maresca will be one of those plotting Arteta’s downfall, the same could certainly be said of Roberto De Zerbi. The Italian is now in charge of Arsenal’s North London rivals Tottenham.

And while some fans might be wanting some hostility between the two, De Zerbi made his admiration of Arteta clear during his spell with former club Brighton.

He said: “Arteta is a great manager. He is very young and his style is clear. I enjoy watching Arsenal games… I try to learn something when I watch them. He was lucky to work with Pep Guardiola and now I think Arteta is one of the best coaches in the world.”