Salah & Szoboszlai run rings around City in champion display

Culture Axis: New Preds, Messi answers 'Stoke' question & more

The Curious Case of Marcelo

Magical Modric inspires Madrid on Mbappe off-day

KDB looks done! Captain leads City flops in Liverpool loss

Editors' Picks

INEOS to distance Man Utd from past as Ferguson blamed for struggles

Rashford's impact at Villa hailed by Asensio & Tielemans

‘Not a foul!’ – Officials bemuse bloodied Barca star Yamal

Young quotes Mourinho as he reacts to overturned penalty decision

Man City, Barca & football's most dramatic falls from grace

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="match-schedule">{"type":"match-schedule","data":{"competitionId":"34pl8szyvrbwcmfkuocjm3r6t"}}</script><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Xavi to leave Barcelona in summer </li><li>Arteta linked with Camp Nou position </li><li>Arsenal boss issues passionate denial</li></ul>

'I am really upset' - Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta issues strong response to reports linking him with Barcelona move following Xavi exit bombshell

Copa del Rey

Barcelona

Atletico Madrid

Premier League

Nottingham Forest

Arsenal

<p>Xavi <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/barcelona-next-boss-thiago-motta-jurgen-klopp-contenders-succeed-xavi/blt65809eab75d128ef" target="_blank">announced his intention to leave Camp Nou</a> at the end of the season in the wake of<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/barcelona-player-ratings-vs-villarreal-joao-cancelo-xavi/blt781d93af9194ac01" target="_blank"> Barca's damaging 5-3 defeat to Villarreal on Saturday</a>. Following this news, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/mikel-arteta-jurgen-klopp-route-shocking-report-claims-arsenal-boss-considering-stepping-down-barcelona-links/bltefec15f99570dfca" target="_blank">Arteta was sensationally linked with taking up the vacant post</a>, but the Arsenal boss has now issued a forthright denial of these rumours. </p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Speaking ahead of his side's trip to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest, Arteta said: "Totally fake news. I don’t know where it is coming from. It is totally untrue. I am really upset about it. I could not believe it. No source, nothing. You have to be cautious when you talk about personal things."</p>

WHAT ARTETA SAID

<p>Arsenal will be pleased to see the rumours nipped in the bud by Arteta so the team can fully focus on the job in hand against Forest on Tuesday evening. The Gunners currently sit third in the Premier League, five points adrift of leaders Liverpool and level with Manchester City, though Pep Guardiola's side do have a game in hand. Arsenal are also in the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since 2017, with Arteta's side due to face FC Porto in the round of 16. </p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE 

<p>With Arteta seemingly out of the running, Barcelona will be focussing on other candidates as they search for Xavi's successor. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/hansi-flick-barcelona-joan-laporta-pushing-ex-bayern-germany-boss-replace-xavi-end-of-season/blte3c1f5bf33f15225" target="_blank">Former Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick</a> is supposedly under consideration, with former players <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/barcelona-next-manager-thiago-motta-responds-to-speculation-replace-xavi/blt5eadd32bda082843" target="_blank">Thiago Motta</a> and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/rafa-marquez-barcelona-speculation-xavi-departure-news/blt6c372bf57d3b84c1" target="_blank">Rafa Marquez</a> also being mentioned as possible future managers. </p>

WHAT NEXT? 

'I am really upset' - Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta issues strong response to reports linking him with Barcelona move following Xavi exit bombshell | Goal.com

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has issued a strong response to reports claiming he will take over at Barcelona in the summer. 

&apos;I am really upset&apos; - Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta issues strong response to reports linking him with Barcelona move following Xavi exit bombshell

Next matches