Mikel Arteta's Rangers roots taught him 'everything he knows' as Alex McLeish quips HE'S responsible for Arsenal glory

Alex McLeish applauded his former Rangers star Mikel Arteta for the job he is doing at Arsenal - joking he taught him "everything he knows" about management.

McLeish brought Arteta to the UK from Barcelona in 2002 and he spent two years at Rangers before taking the Premier League by storm, via a stop off in his homeland at Real Sociedad. He went in to become an icon at Everton and Arsenal, captaining the latter before moving into coaching under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

He made an emotional return to Arsenal as Unai Emery's successor in 2019 and while it hasn't all been plain-sailing, the Gunners' insistence on standing by him through thick and thin looks to be paying off. Arsenal sit eight points ahead of City, who have a game in hand, at the top of the Premier League and with just ten games left to navigate, they can see the finish line in the title race.

It would be their first league title since the Invincibles season in 2004 and McLeish is buzzing his former prodigy is making it happen. Asked about their time together at Rangers on PLZ Soccer, he said: "Did I think he would become a tremendous manager? At that age, you don't know. But I knew he was a good kid, he cared about the game and he was very knowledgeable. To see what he's doing nowadays is fantastic.

"As every week passes, I think Arsenal will get caught. And then the seed of doubt creeps into my mind, it's looking possible and maybe even probable. Phenomenal, well done Mikel. I taught you everything you know."

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