'Mikel Arteta's Arsenal exit is inevitable - and I know who will replace him'

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·19 February 2026

'Mikel Arteta's Arsenal exit is inevitable - and I know who will replace him'

It is considered only a matter of time before Mikel Arteta leaves the Gunners

Mikel Arteta will manage Barcelona one day, and Arsenal will already have a leading candidate in mind to replace him as manager.

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That's according to former Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit, who believes Cesc Fabregas is a clear choice for the Gunners job when it inevitably becomes available.

Arteta is this season looking to win his first trophy in six years, and are currently the favourite to win the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup - in what would be a historic quadruple sweep never seen before in English football.

But the clock is ticking on Arteta's time in north London, as former Gunners midfielder Petit believes it is a matter of when, and not if, the Spaniard takes charge at Barcelona.

"Mikel Arteta will one day manage Barcelona, I think eventually we'll see that," Petit told BetBrothers.

"The connections are strong. But I think it depends on how he wants to deal with his managerial career, in terms of having his mind set to be there forever, like a one-club man sort of thing.

I'd say Barca would be his favourite next move if he were to leave Arsenal

Petit on Arteta

"Does he really want to experience football in different countries? To be honest, if he is to leave Arsenal, I see him more likely to go abroad than to another Premier League club. So, obviously, I'd say Barca would be his favourite next move if he were to leave Arsenal.

"To be honest, I don't know what's best. If he wins, he will leave. If he doesn't win, he will leave. I don't know. If he wins, he might continue to increase the number of trophies.

"We would have to be in Arteta's head to think what he wants to do in the future. But for me, I see him more on the long term, as long as possible to stay at Arsenal, rather than moving somewhere else, than leaving any time soon."

An option for Arteta's successor is Fabregas, who made his name at Arsenal before moving to Barcelona and then back to the Premier League with Chelsea.

Fabregas is impressing as head coach of Serie A side Como, and Petit believes Premier League winner will be considered by his former clubs.

Cesc Fabregas

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"I think Cesc Fabregas will take his time because he has everything he needs at Como," Petit continued. "He wants players, they bring him players. Whatever he wants, they bring it to him. And that's allowing him to have that kind of power in the decision-making.

"I think I saw something this weekend which I haven't seen throughout the season with Alvaro Morata. Morata got sent off because he reacted to a provocation and Fabregas came out publicly to say, you know, he should know better.

"I think it's the first time he goes public about a player instead of, you know, going public as he probably did in the past. So for me, that's showing personality, showing, 'I'm the boss,' and that obviously is a sign of 'I'm going to be here for a while.

"His former clubs will let managers go and obviously Chelsea, Arsenal, I mean really any club at the top, will be looking at him as an option because he's doing an incredible job at Como."