Mikel Arteta says he’s happy and proud to be where he is at Arsenal, amid recent media links to FC Barcelona.

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LONDON, ENGLAND: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League group A match between Arsenal FC and PSV Eindhoven at Emirates Stadium on October 20, 2022. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Spanish outlet Sport reported this week that Barcelona were looking at Mikel Arteta as an option for the future, with current Barca boss Xavi somewhat struggling lately.

In La Liga, Barcelona are actually doing pretty well, sitting second and just a point off the leaders. But the league leaders are their fierce rivals Real Madrid, who beat them 3-1 in October, so that’s not an acceptable situation for the supporters.

As for the Champions League, Barcelona’s campaign went badly wrong and they ended up finishing third in their group with three defeats in six games.

But speaking to the English media this week, Arteta suggested he’s not about to take over at the Catalan club.

“What I can say is that I’m extremely happy and proud to be where I am,” Arteta said.

“Barcelona now are on a really good path. I think they have a phenomenal coach who is an absolute legend at the club and has lifted the whole place. You have to be very respectful of that.”

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PSV Eindhoven’s Dutch head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy (L) and Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (C) chat with an official after the UEFA Europa League Group A football match between Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven at The Arsenal Stadium in London, on October 20, 2022. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Arteta signed a new contract with Arsenal earlier this year, so he won’t be available to poach for a while yet – unless a club is willing to buy out his deal.

With Arsenal finally starting to reap the rewards of the first couple of years of Arteta’s project with the club, it’s hard to see why they or he would want to cut ties right now.

Arteta’s reputation won’t continue to grow if he leaves his job half-finished. Going to Barcelona in their current mess and likely getting sacked the second that results turn won’t help him either. He’s smart enough to know that.