Mikel Arteta has opened up on his experiences coming through the ranks at Barcelona, including sharing a dorm room with several future club legends.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Arsenal manager enjoyed a fine playing career, making 539 appearances across spells with the Gunners, Everton, Real Sociedad, Rangers, Paris Saint-Germain and Barca\u2019s B team.<\/p>\n Born in San Sebastian in the north of Spain and a childhood friend of Xabi Alonso, Arteta joined Barcelona\u2019s famed La Masia academy as a teenager, moving to their campus in Catalonia.<\/p>\n Ahead of Arsenal\u2019s Champions League dead-rubber fixture away at PSV Eindhoven, Arteta was asked about the difficulties of breaking into a competitive first team, drawing on his experiences with\u00a0Barcelona.<\/p>\n Iniesta and Valdes were among Arteta\u2019s roommates \/ David Ramos\/GettyImages<\/p>\n \u201cIt was very difficult. The country was very very different,\u201d\u00a0Arteta\u00a0said. \u201cI used to live in a room with bunk beds. There were eight of us. There was Pepe Reina, goalkeeper at Barcelona, Victor Valdes, Andres Iniesta, Thiago Motta, Carles Puyol, myself.<\/p>\n \u201cSo there was huge competition within a room already. You know, we were all like little brothers living with each other but the competition was fearless. And that\u2019s probably what it made us after.<\/p>\n \u201cSo when you have to compete with other players, you are ready. But it\u2019s always very tough to put them in the environment that is very close to what they find in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Though Arteta was considered a top prospect and had a respectable career, he never made an appearance for Barcelona\u2019s first team.<\/p>\n He has overseen the development of several promising youngsters at\u00a0Arsenal\u00a0during his time as manager, including Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe.<\/p>\n
\n![\"Andres](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/01hhfddcpc482stadeb4.jpg\" "\\"Andres")
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