Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that, during his playing days, he would have been open to switching his international allegiance from Spain to England. The 42-year-old spent over a decade in English football, representing Everton and Arsenal, but never made an appearance at the international level.Arteta’s prime years as a player coincided with Spain’s golden generation, featuring stars like Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, David Silva, Santi Cazorla, Xabi Alonso, and Marcos Senna. Despite his talents, the depth of Spain’s squad meant that he never broke into the national team. In 2010, when Spain triumphed at the World Cup, England’s then-manager Fabio Capello and the Football Association (FA) explored the possibility of recruiting Arteta for England.“I was thinking about that the other day. I was actually talking to Edu about that at lunch. I would have done it. I feel very proud about it.” Arteta said reflecting on the situation.“I was very realistic, looking at the players Spain had at the time, and how big a challenge I had. You need to know your level, that is very important. Look in the mirror. In the end, it didn’t happen. But it was good, at least to think about it.”Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he would have changed his international allegiance from Spain to England during his playing career.The 42-year-old spent 11 years of his playing career in England across spells with Everton and Arsenal.#AFCMore from @ArtdeRoche ⬇️— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) October 18, 2024 Arteta’s eligibility to play for England was blocked by the stricter rules around dual nationality at that time. Although he had spent five years playing in England, his earlier appearances for Spain’s Under-21 team posed a challenge under the rules that existed then — rules that have since become more flexible. For instance, Declan Rice, who represented Ireland at both youth and senior levels, was able to switch and has made over 50 appearances for England.Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Arteta said “it was OK. If you cannot do it, you cannot do it. I wasn’t prepared to fight against the world.”When asked about the recent appointment of Thomas Tuchel as England’s head coach, Arteta shared his perspective on foreign managers leading national teams.“I understand that it can feel sad for some people not to have an English manager. History tells you how important this could be as well.“I think I would take a lot of pride as well that a lot managers and a lot of people would do anything to be the England manager. That’s related to how we’re treated in this country as foreigners. How much we love the passion, the respect, the history and the way that things are done in this country. I can say personally that you feel so related to where you are even if you are not from here. I think there are very few countries that could say that.”“I look English, I’ve been here so long. I’ll tell you right now, the feeling I have, for me this is like home. I’ve been here for 22 years. I have that feeling towards it because I always feel respected, welcomed and inspired by this country and the history of football and how you get treated daily. I think that’s something you should be really proud of as a country.”Smith Rowe: ‘Leaving Arsenal was the toughest decision I’ve had to make’Currently, Arsenal have four players with England caps — Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Raheem Sterling, and Ben White. While Saka and Rice were part of the latest squad, Sterling and White have not been called up since the 2022 World Cup.“They (Arsenal’s England internationals) are going to learn a lot. He’s one of the best coaches in the world in my opinion, the way his teams are set up. It’s a very exciting time.” Arteta commented on what Tuchel’s arrival could mean for his England internationals.“I spoke to a few of the players and they had a smile on their faces straight away. That’s a good sign.”ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 8Saturday14:30: (1.52) Tottenham (4.70) West Ham (5.50)17:00: (2.45) Fulham (3.40) Aston Villa (2.85)17:00: (2.45) Ipswich (3.50) Everton (3.05)17:00: (1.75) Man.Utd. (3.80) Brentford (4.60)17:00: (2.00) Newcastle (3.50) Brighton (3.70)17:00: (2.40) Southampton (3.55) Leicester (3.05)19:30: (5.30) Bournemouth (3.60) Arsenal (1.70)Sunday16:00: (8.00) Wolverhampton (5.30) Man.City (1.35)18:30: (1.70) Liverpool (4.10) Chelsea (5.20)Monday22:00: (2.30) Nott.Forest (3.30) Crystal Palace (3.20)***odds are subject to change***
