Leaving Arsenal to become the manager of Paris Saint-Germain ‘would not be a step up’ for Mikel Arteta.
That’s according to former Gunners winger Perry Groves, who has told talkSPORT he would be ‘gobsmacked’ if the boss accepted the Ligue 1 champions’ approach.
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Reports in France claim PSG have spoken with Arteta in ‘recent weeks’ over the possibility of him taking over in the Parc des Princes dugout.
It comes after they recently sacked Christophe Galtier after one season in charge, just days after winning the title.
French outlet RMC Sport have reported that PSG’s sporting director Luis Campos held talks with Arteta over a possible return to the club where he spent 18 months on loan from Barcelona during the early stages of his playing career.
But it is suggested Arteta turned him down, insisting he is happy at Arsenal and committed to the project at the Emirates Stadium.
That is music to the ears of relieved Gunners fans, as well as former ace Groves, who insisted there is nothing on offer at PSG that should tempt the manager away from north London.
“I’d be amazed if he went,” said the self-proclaimed ‘massive Gooner’ when asked about the reports on air on Saturday.
“I think he is quite a moralistic man. He can’t ask the Arsenal owners to buy into his project [if he’s going to leave]. They have backed him with money and signings and, when they went through a rocky patch of results, they stuck with him.
“He’s also asking the players to commit themselves long-term to Arsenal. Bukayo Saka has just signed a long-term contract, William Saliba is just about to sign a long-term contract.
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“I think he’s one of those managers who looks at Arsenal and thinks, ‘I’m asking people to buy into this and I’m buying into it, I can’t be seen to be talking to other clubs’.
“Arteta has changed the culture at Arsenal Football Club. There is a synergy between the players and the fans now. The fans look on the pitch and see a group of young and hungry players who actually care about the club – which he has installed.
“He will go up in Arsenal fans’ estimations for rebuffing this and staying committed to the project.
“And honestly, as a manager, what is he going to learn if he goes to PSG? They can be bang average and still win the Ligue 1 title. It’s not a competitive league.
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“I must admit, I don’t see PSG as a step up from Arsenal. They are not one of the massive clubs, they are not at the same level as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
“They’re richer or as rich as those clubs, but they don’t have the history… and especially with the situation with Kylian Mbappe as well, he’s leaving next summer.
“I would be gobsmacked if Arteta was interested in that job.”
