Arsenal’s Arteta reflects on how Super Eagles legend protected him like a son while at PSG

• Arteta joined a PSG team which had legends like Jay-Jay Okocha, Ronaldinho, and Nicolas Anelka
• “They protected me like a son,” Arteta said of his experience at PSG
• As Arsenal's manager, he now faces his former club PSG in the Champions League

In January 2001, Mikel Arteta’s football journey took an unexpected yet pivotal turn, leaving behind the famed walls of Barcelona for Paris St-Germain. 

This move, made by an 18-year-old filled with potential, would mark the beginning of a journey that eventually led him to the top coaching ranks. Struggling for a breakthrough in a Barcelona midfield stacked with icons like Pep Guardiola, Emmanuel Petit, and Xavi Hernandez, Arteta knew that Paris was the best place for him to develop.

His PSG loan spell offered him a chance to learn alongside football legends. Ronaldinho, Jay-Jay Okocha, Nicolas Anelka, and Mauricio Pochettino were all part of the PSG squad, creating a perfect environment for a young midfielder to hone his leadership and tactical abilities. 

“We were in Barcelona when we got the phone call; ‘You need to pack your bags and fly to Paris. Now.’ You look at those names [at PSG] and think, are they sure?” Arteta recalls, still in awe of the stars he shared the dressing room with.

Ronaldinho joined PSG later that year, adding another layer of brilliance to the team's midfield. For Arteta, it was an unforgettable experience. 

“We had Ronaldinho, Okocha, Anelka, Pochettino, Heinze. I wanted to stay there [after the loan] but I was owned by Barcelona and they couldn't find an agreement,” he said, reminiscing on his desire to remain in Paris.

More than two decades later, as Arteta prepares to welcome PSG to the Emirates Stadium for a Champions League clash, he reminisces about his time in France. 

“It's an experience that will stay with me forever, that shaped who I wanted to be as a player and ignited in me something to become a manager. They protected me like a son. It was the perfect environment.”

Despite confirmation that he would return to Barcelona after his loan, Arteta's bond with PSG supporters remained strong. 

The club had finished fourth in Ligue 1 during his tenure, a marked improvement from ninth the previous season, and secured UEFA Cup football for the following campaign. Arteta’s 42 appearances that season may have yielded only modest goal involvements, but his influence on the pitch went far beyond the numbers.

As PSG fans head to the Emirates Stadium, many will fondly remember the young Spaniard who, two decades later, has grown into one of the sharpest tactical minds in football.

Why Havertz's form might hinder Victor Osimhen’s transfer to Arsenal

Previously, TheRadar reported that Arsenal's composed 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, August 18 provided further proof that they might not need to scramble for an attacking addition after all. Kai Havertz, who many questioned after a slow start last season, delivered a crucial goal within 25 minutes, heading home a brilliant cross from Bukayo Saka. 

Victor Osimhen's potential transfer to Arsenal appears to be in doubt after Arteta emphasised the need for improvement in midfield control and playing out from the back but made no mention of strengthening the forward line in his post-match interview after the Wolves win.