Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is a name that's always in the news for several reasons, from some of his controversial opinions during press conferences to his outstanding achievements with the club. Whether you like him or hate him, the undeniable truth is that Arteta is an excellent manager who cannot be ignored. The Spaniard also looks close to finally lifting the Premier League title with Arsenal, as the 2025-26 Premier League season looks to be theirs.
Life is going well for Arsenal's manager outside the field as well. Mikel Arteta is married to his wife Lorena Bernal, who is an actress and life and spiritual coach. This article will look back at an unknown yet interesting phase of his career, when a young Mikel Arteta played for the likes of Barcelona and PSG.
Mikel Arteta's time with Barcelona
Mikel Arteta’s time at Barcelona was a formative chapter that shaped him more as a football thinker than a first-team player. Born in San Sebastián, Arteta moved to Barcelona at just 15 after impressing during trials at La Masia, the club’s famous youth academy. The move was a major step, taking him away from home and into a strict, highly competitive environment. Despite the challenges, Arteta thrived socially and intellectually, forming close friendships with future club legends such as Andrés Iniesta, Víctor Valdés and Xavi Hernández.
At La Masia, Arteta was exposed to elite football ideas at a young age. He trained regularly with the first team and learned under manager Louis van Gaal, while also meeting Pep Guardiola, who would later become a major influence on his coaching philosophy. However, breaking into Barcelona’s senior side proved extremely difficult. The midfield was crowded with world-class talent, including Guardiola, Luis Enrique, Cocu, Xavi and Iniesta, limiting Arteta’s opportunities.
Although he never made a competitive first-team appearance, Arteta’s Barcelona years were invaluable. They provided him with a deep understanding of positional play, discipline and football intelligence—lessons that would later define his successful career as both a player and a manager.
Mikel Arteta's Loan Spell at PSG
Mikel Arteta’s loan spell at Paris Saint-Germain marked his true introduction to senior football at the top level. Joining PSG midway through the 2000–01 season, Arteta arrived in a high-profile squad managed by Luis Fernández and filled with established stars such as Nicolas Anelka, Jay-Jay Okocha, Mauricio Pochettino and Gabriel Heinze. The move offered Arteta something he lacked at Barcelona: regular first-team exposure.
He made his senior debut in February 2001 and soon followed it with his first league appearance against rivals Marseille. Although results were mixed, Arteta gradually found his role as a creative playmaker in midfield. He featured 11 times in his first season and scored his first senior goal against Lille, an important personal milestone.
Arteta stayed on for a second season, gaining more experience and maturity. He was part of the PSG squad that won the 2001 UEFA Intertoto Cup, his first piece of silverware in senior football. In total, Arteta played 53 matches and scored five goals for the French club. PSG were keen to keep him permanently, but he ultimately returned to Barcelona after the loan ended. Arteta played for the likes of Rangers, Real Sociedad, Everton, and Arsenal in the remaining years of his career, before eventually retiring in 2016 as a player.
Mikel Arteta might have not had the biggest success in terms of silverware as a football player, but he definitely looks set to achieve those unfulfilled dreams as a manager with Arsenal.
