Arsenal almost made Pochettino their manager before Arteta

When Arsenal sacked Unai Emery, they had several managers in mind to speak to about their vacant job role, but one surprising name has come out as one of their targets before Mikel Arteta agreed to be their coach. Emery had struggled to control the dressing room and change the culture at the club after taking over from Arsene Wenger, who had been their manager for at least two decades.

It was a tough task for the Spaniard, even though he managed to reach the final of the Europa League in his first season at the club. Arsenal backed him as much as they could, but at the start of the 2019/2020 season, the club was not satisfied with the team’s progress and sacked him.

Pochettino’s Link to the Arsenal Job

Most managers would accept the Arsenal job without thinking too much, so it was no surprise that they had options, with the Daily Telegraph revealing that one of the managers they spoke to was Mauricio Pochettino. He had been sacked by Tottenham after they reached the Champions League final that same year. Despite the fierce rivalry between Arsenal and Spurs, the report says he was open to accepting Arsenal’s offer to become their manager.

The revelation adds an intriguing twist to Arsenal’s managerial history, with Pochettino’s willingness to cross the North London divide notable. His experience and reputation made him a credible candidate, and the club’s interest reflects the seriousness of their search. The rivalry would have made such an appointment controversial, but the club’s priorities were clear.