Pochettino Was Open to Arsenal Talks Weeks After Spurs Sacking

Mauricio Pochettino was willing to discuss becoming Arsenal manager just weeks after he was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur in 2019, it has been revealed.

The claim features in a new book by Telegraph Sport’s Sam Dean, which charts the club’s rebirth under Mikel Arteta and is published on Thursday. Extracts released by The Telegraph reveal that Arsenal held serious conversations with the Argentine as they searched for Unai Emery’s replacement, with multiple sources saying he was open to the prospect.

Pochettino was dismissed by Spurs in November 2019, just six months after leading them to the Champions League final, and was replaced by José Mourinho. Arsenal sacked Emery later that month, and initially placed Freddie Ljungberg in interim charge, hoping he could see out the season.

However, the Swede's lack of experience was evident, and technical director Edu was tasked with finding a permanent appointment. According to the book, Arteta was far from the obvious choice. His lack of managerial experience meant he started near the bottom of Arsenal’s shortlist, which also included Carlo Ancelotti, Patrick Vieira, Roberto Martínez, Julian Nagelsmann, Massimiliano Allegri and Vítor Pereira.

Pochettino’s willingness to engage is remarkable given his five years at Spurs, where he became one of the most popular managers in the club’s recent history. A move across north London would have been one of the most controversial appointments in the rivalry’s history.

What ultimately swung the decision in Arteta’s favour was the backing of figures inside the club who had worked with him during his playing days. Analysts and recruitment staff, including Ben Knapper, who is now Arsenal’s sporting director, urged Edu to speak to him before ruling him out.

Edu has since revealed that Arteta impressed him from their very first phone call, and that a meeting at the Spaniard’s home convinced him further. He described thinking, “Wow, this guy is prepared to the next level”, after Arteta laid out his vision in remarkable detail. 

Seven years on, the decision looks inspired. Arteta won the FA Cup in his first season, guided Arsenal to three consecutive second-place finishes and then ended their 22-year wait for the Premier League title last season, as well as reaching the Champions League final. He has also recently signed a new contract until 2030.

Pochettino spent over a year out of management before winning the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain, and after an unsuccessful spell at Chelsea, he was appointed head coach of the United States national team in 2024.