How Mikel Arteta nearly landing the Arsenal job dealt Unai Emery an opening day defeat to Man City

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Manchester City coach Mikel Arteta is believed to have played a key role in the club’s 2-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola’s side started the defence of their Premier League crown with an impressive away victory, thanks to goals in both halves from Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva.

MORE: Arsenal star suggests potential Unai Emery tactical change after Manchester City defeat

It wasn’t the start new Arsenal manager Unai Emery would have wanted, but it must have been a pretty sweet victory for one of the men in the opposite dugout – Arteta.

The Spaniard, who played for Arsenal during his playing days, was known to have been a top candidate for the Gunners job over the summer before they eventually went for Emery.

Mikel Arteta was linked with the Arsenal job in the summer

And according to the Telegraph, Arteta’s strong knowledge of the Arsenal squad’s strengths and weaknesses from his time spent applying for the vacancy left by Arsene Wenger gave City that crucial edge at the Emirates.

The report suggests the 36-year-old may have offered some tactical insight just before Silva scored City’s second goal in north London, with TV cameras spotting Guardiola celebrating with his assistant.

Arsenal went with Unai Emery over Mikel Arteta

The Telegraph also adds that Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis spoke with Arteta after the game to make sure there were no hard feelings about not selecting him as Wenger’s replacement.

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