Chelsea want Mikel Arteta model for Pochettino replacement as Arsenal braced for approach

The first big move of the summer has been made as Chelsea mutually parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino. Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have watched yet another Blues boss depart which will be the fourth coach that Arteta has taken on following Frank Lampard, Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter - that's not even including one game overseen by Bruno Saltor as caretaker boss.

It is thought that Chelsea want to look at a younger coach with Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna and the recently unattached Roberto De Zerbi the potential favourites. The idea is to emulate the model that the Gunners have seen such success with as Arteta has established Arsenal not only back in the Champions League but also as title challengers.

The role of Arteta in the process has been integral and where perhaps managers of Chelsea have had far less influence is with transfers. Arteta has to be consulted on any potential moves that sporting director Edu and soon-to-be managing director Richard Garlick look to complete.

This has however, not necessarily been the case in west London as Todd Boehly and his team’s scattergun approach to player recruitment has been thought to be very much out of the head coach's plans. This has led to inconsistency and a sometimes fractured dressing room, with only Cole Palmer emerging as an assured success in the last year.

Arteta's work has seen him become so appreciated that clubs such as Barcelona have already been linked with a potential approach for the Spaniard. With Pep Guardiola’s contract with Manchester City expiring in 2025, it would not be surprising for the Sky Blues to be linked with a switch for their former assistant coach.

Arsenal are hoping to tie Arteta down to a new long-term contract. However, Arteta has been very coy when it has come to discuss the potential for a new deal but offered up some optimism for worried fans that this is the project he is focused on.

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"Whatever happens, it will be very emotional on the day [against Everton]," he said in his pre-match press conference. "It's probably not the right moment to make any conclusions but afterwards we will have time to reflect."

Other players in the team, however, are very confident he will be at the club for the long term. Jorginho, who recently signed a new deal with the Gunners spoke openly on his feelings about Arteta’s potential to stay.

"I feel that he could stay way longer," he said. "I feel he feels good here and I honestly don't see him going. It is really important for the club for him to stay because him with [technical director] Edu and the board, the whole club, they created something special. I don't believe he wants to go as well."

The irony of course is that the Italian was signed from Chelsea. He made the move after the Blues brought in Enzo Fernandez but the former Blue has certainly come out of the situation the better… maybe Pochettino will too.