Mikel Arteta responds to what Lionel Messi had to say about him

Arteta has built a strong reputation during his time at Arsenal, turning the club around from a difficult starting point to one of the top sides in football.

He has taken his time, faced plenty of criticism along the way, but there is no denying he has turned them into one of the best teams around.

Some critics still point out that Arteta has not won the Premier League or Champions League yet, and while those trophies would certainly help his case, it does not take away from what he has already achieved.

Messi recently ranked the Spaniard third in his list of top managers for 2025, putting him behind only Luis Enrique and Hansi Flick.

It is high praise coming from someone with Messi’s standing in the game, and speaking to Sky Sports about the Argentine’s comments, Arteta said:

“He’s somebody that I have an incredible admiration for, the best player in the history of the game. So, if he has this eye for our team and the work that we have done, it’s very good to hear.”

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal could be set to take over the Premier League

Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta at the helm, have now finished as runners-up in three consecutive Premier League campaigns.

The next step is claiming the title, but Manchester City remain a massive obstacle in this season’s race.

There’s still plenty of football left to play, but some Arsenal fans already believe Arteta could be about to take control of English football over the next few years.

A lot of that talk stems from growing speculation that Pep Guardiola might leave City at the end of this season. If he does walk away, it would completely change the landscape.

If Guardiola does move on, it would not be a surprise if Arsenal were to became favourites for future titles. And with Arteta in charge, it is not hard to imagine them turning those expectations into reality more than once.