How Mikel Arteta left Manchester City to become Pep Guardiola's biggest rival

Upon retiring from professional football, Mikel Arteta had three very attractive options available to him.

Firstly, a chance to run Arsenal's academy set-up under the then-watchful eye of Arsene Wenger. Two, a reunion with former PSG team-mate Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham in a backroom staff role. Or, thirdly, become Pep Guardiola's assistant manager at Manchester City. The rest, as they say, is history.

Arteta was always extremely popular in and around the dressing room as a player. Hard-working and diligent, close friend Guardiola - who played with him at Barcelona's famous 'La Masia' academy - knew that having a man with the drive and ethic like the former Man City coach has was someone he was keen to have around him at the Etihad Stadium.

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And so the story begins, with Arteta joining forces with old pal Guardiola to help City on their rise to the top which saw the duo win two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and two EFL Cups. But, burning beneath the ex-Everton midfielder was a desire for more, that hunger shown not just on the football pitch but also in terms of making a difference as the head honcho so-to-speak. Being in Guardiola's shadow was never just enough.

And so the Emirates called and that was that. Arteta swapped Manchester for London and with the Gunners in need, along came their hero. Moving on from an era filled with mostly success under Wenger was never going to be easy - as the first few seasons showed. But restoring values and building a winning culture, as he had seen at the Etihad, was something