According to The Telegraph, Arsenal held serious conversations with the Argentine shortly after he was dismissed by Tottenham Hotspur. Pochettino had spent five years at Spurs, taking them to the Champions League final in 2019, and had become a prominent figure in the north London rivalry.
A move to the Emirates would have been a particularly striking development given his recent connection with Tottenham. However, Pochettino was reportedly willing to discuss the opportunity, even though the prospect of crossing the divide so soon after leaving Spurs would have carried obvious reputational risks.
Arsenal ultimately went in a different direction after Emery’s departure in November 2019. The Spaniard had been appointed to replace Arsène Wenger in 2018, but results and performances deteriorated during his second season, forcing the club to begin another managerial search.
Arteta was not initially the obvious favourite. The former Arsenal captain had no senior managerial experience and had spent the period since retiring from playing as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. His coaching education under Guardiola was a major attraction, but the club had several more established names to consider.
Carlo Ancelotti, a multiple Champions League winner who had managed some of Europe’s biggest clubs, was among those on the radar. Massimiliano Allegri was also considered after his successful spell with Juventus, while Julian Nagelsmann was another candidate following his appointment at RB Leipzig.
Arsenal also discussed former players who had moved into management. Patrick Vieira, then in charge of Nice, was among the names considered. His connection with the club and relationship with then influential figure Edu gave him a different profile from the more experienced candidates.
Roberto Martínez progressed significantly through the process, according to the report. The Spaniard had managed Wigan Athletic and Everton in the Premier League and was then leading Belgium. Portuguese coach Vítor Pereira was also included on the initial list.
The club eventually chose Arteta, backing his potential rather than an established managerial record. The appointment required patience, but he went on to win the FA Cup and build Arsenal into Premier League title contenders.
The revelation offers a reminder that Arsenal’s eventual direction was far from inevitable. Their decision to appoint Arteta came after considering a varied field of candidates, including a manager whose recent history with Tottenham would have made him one of the most controversial choices imaginable.