Arsenal told where Mikel Arteta stands on possible Barcelona exit after angry 'fake news' rant

Mikel Arteta is happy at Arsenal amid speculation linking him to Barcelona, according to reports.

One of the biggest jobs in football is set to become available when Xavi leaves the Catalans this summer. Despite suffering financial difficulties in recent years, Barcelona remain a big draw throughout world football.

Xavi - who won the La Liga title last season - announced in January that he will leave in June. The Spaniard called the decision “common sense” as he feels a fresh face is needed to take the club forward.

Reports have named Arteta as a potential target to take the reins at the Nou Camp. The Gunners boss has links to Barca having graduated from their youth ranks in the late 90s.

Although he never made a first-team appearance, Arteta has an affinity with Barcelona and, as a young Spanish manager, the rumours were inevitable. But Italian sports journalist Fabrizio Romano is reporting that the 41-year-old has no interest in leaving North London.

Arteta’s current deal has just over a year left to run but Gunners chiefs are keen to tie him down long-term. His five years at the Emirates has resulted in the club competing at the upper echelons of the Premier League.

Just one FA Cup to show for their improvement is hardly an eye-catching return but Arteta plans on finishing the job. Romano told his daily briefing that he has no intention of leaving - comments that mirror Arteta’s furious response to journalists earlier this year.

“That’s totally fake news,” he said when grilled about the Barca rumours. “I don’t know where it is coming from, it’s totally untrue and I’m very upset about it. I could not believe it. It has no sources. You have to be cautious when you write things in the way it was yesterday.”