Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has singled out his time at Rangers as being a formative moment in his footballing career.

The Spaniard spent two years at Ibrox between 2002 and 2004 and he says he still looks back at his time in Scotland with a great deal of fondness:

“I was quite a good student. I thought my English was pretty good. But when I arrived in Glasgow, then I realised that it was a different language almost. I was so lucky. They welcome me so well and in a really special way. It’s special people and I am so grateful. It helped me so much from my transition to playing in the Premier League and we had some very great moments there.”

Arteta, of course, went on to have success at Everton and Arsenal but he has emphasised, on more than one occasion, that he wouldn’t have cut it in England without having spent some time in Glasgow first.

Following an illustrious playing career, he went on to become assistant manager to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, before taking the reins at Arsenal three years ago. The Gunners currently have a five point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Many Gers fans will be hoping that he one day takes the hot seat in the Ibrox dugout. Whether that will ever happen, it seems unlikely, but he undoubtedly holds the club close to his heart.