The former Liverpool defender turned Sky Sports pundit spoke about Arteta’s Arsenal and their playstyle.
He compared the Spaniard to former Chelsea and Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho.
Arteta responded: “I don’t talk about myself. I let him give his opinion.”
He added on Mourinho: “Jose? For sure. I’ve known him since I was 15 years old. He coached me. He was in Barcelona.
“Yeah, he’s won — I don’t know, 26, 28 titles? So he’s someone to really admire, the way he’s done it, the way he’s changed the culture in clubs, the way he’s done it in different countries.”
Asked if the comparisons are a compliment, he finished: “I take it as an opinion. I don’t like comparing myself to anybody, because I’m myself so I don’t know… I don’t do things because other people have done them, I do things that I believe are the best things for the players and the team to get us success and play the way we want to play.”