Manchester City assistant coach Mikel Arteta has opened up on speculation linking him with a return to former club Arsenal in the summer, in comments quoted by Metro.

The former Gunners skipper was heavily linked with a return to the Emirates Stadium as a successor to long-serving boss Arsene Wenger but Arsenal's hierarchy eventually settled on Unai Emery, with Arteta continuing at Manchester City.

Now, a few months on from the saga, Arteta has opened up on the situation and confirmed that he held talks with Arsenal but did not reveal how close he came to actually leaving defending champions Manchester City.

"I didn’t talk on that moment two, three months ago, and I didn’t make any statement, and I don’t think today is the day to talk about it," he said in quotes published by Metro.

"You all know something happened but the reality is that I am here and I am very happy.

"If you ask me in the future will I be a coach the answer will be yes, but I am really happy where I am."

Moving to bring in Emery was a fine choice for Arsenal as it gives the Gunners the managerial experience they need to steady the ship following two decades under Wenger but Arteta could still return to North London in the future.