Vitor Pereira reveals he had a long and good meeting with Arsenal before they appointed Mikel Arteta

Vitor Pereira reveals he had a long and good meeting with Arsenal before they appointed Mikel Arteta

 

In a surprising revelation, Portuguese manager Vitor Pereira has disclosed that he held extensive talks with Arsenal before the club ultimately appointed Mikel Arteta in 2019.

Pereira, who has managed clubs like Porto, Fenerbahçe, and Shanghai SIPG, revealed in a recent interview that his discussions with the Gunners were positive and in-depth.

“I had a long and good meeting with Arsenal’s leadership,” Pereira said. “It was a detailed conversation about philosophy, squad building, and the future. But in the end, they chose a different path.”

At the time, Arsenal were searching for a successor to Unai Emery, and Pereira was among the candidates considered. However, the club opted for then-Manchester City assistant Mikel Arteta, who has since led the Gunners through a significant rebuild.

While Pereira’s Arsenal move never materialized, his comments offer a fascinating glimpse into what might have been. Would he have brought a different approach to the Emirates? Fans can only speculate—but one thing is certain: Arteta’s impact has been transformative.