Snubbed Mikel happy as No.2... for now

MIKEL ARTETA has no regrets at missing out on the Arsenal job in the summer.

With Pep Guardiola banished to the stands for tonight’s Champions League opening game against Lyon, No.2 Arteta will take charge of Manchester City.

Guardiola will serve a one-match touchline ban after being sent to the stands for raging at Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz during City’s quarter-final second-leg defeat to Liverpool last season. Arteta, 36, had looked set to succeed Arsene Wenger before the Arsenal board got cold feet on him late on and instead hired Unai Emery.

But the Spanish coach, who took yesterday’s press conference in the absence of Guardiola, said he was not bitter at losing out on his big break into management.

Arteta said: “In football it’s so hard to predict things. When things happen, you have to make decisions – and sometimes you don’t have time to make them.

“The decision was made and I’m so happy the decision was made. I’m very privileged to be where I am.

“I feel very fulfilled with the job I’m doing at the moment.

“If you ask me the question if, one day in the future, I will be a coach, the answer is probably ‘yes’.

Under UEFA rules, Guardiola is not permitted to have any contact with his staff or players from when they enter the stadium until the game is over.

Former Gunners midfielder Arteta is ready to step up and take temporary charge in the City dugout.

He added: “Obviously Pep’s very disappointed.

“He wouldn’t choose the situation but I’m here. I’ll try to do my best to reduce the impact of not having Pep, but for the rest, it is absolutely normal.

“Up to now, the preparation has been completely normal. I’ll be on the touchline and I’ll try to make the right decisions and for the rest, nothing will change.

“It’s a good challenge, a very nice challenge.”

City are favourites to lift the European Cup – won by Real Madrid for the last three seasons – with Arteta claiming Guardiola has assembled the best squad in the world.

He added: “For me, we have the best players in the world. I look at our players as if they are the best.