Cesc Fabregas has been speaking about Mikel Arteta, including revealing what the players at Arsenal think about him.

Mikel Arteta first arrived at Arsenal two weeks after Cesc Fabregas, five years his junior, headed back to Barcelona to play for Pep Guardiola.

When Arteta then hung up his boots at Arsenal five years later, he headed to Manchester City to join Pep Guardiola there.

Although they never played together, when Fabregas talks about his countryman, you got the sense that they are more than a little familiar with each other.

“He’s a guy who loves football,” Fabregas told TalkSport. “He knows what he’s doing. He has a clear idea of ​​where he wants to go. Even now, if you talk to some of the players, they will tell you that they really enjoy playing with him, that training is fine, that they feel prepared and know what they are doing.

“Arteta was very lucky in terms of being by Pep’s side for I don’t know how many years [three-and-a-half], it was like a mega preparation for such a young coach. I mean, if I could have the opportunity to do something like that, I think I could get it without any doubt because it was like doing a master’s degree when you’re just finishing high school, “he added.

“It’s a difficult job, really from where he got the club and Arsenal’s goal, but I think the board believes a lot in him and hopefully he can be the man who leads the team to the top.”

Fabregas also revealed that he would like to move into coaching himself.

“It’s something that’s been inside me for a long time, it’s something I’d like to try,” he said.

“People tell me I’m crazy because after a long career and so much pressure, going into management is maybe even more pressure!

“It’s something that I like, I want to give it a go. I’m learning, studying, listening from a lot of different people and in football you always keep learning every day so I’m happy about this.”

Fabregas, now 34, has one year remaining on his deal at Monaco.