Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino talks up relationship with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta

Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has talked up the relationship that he shares with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

On Saturday evening, the pair will lock horns when the Blues square off against the Gunners in a Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge.

Pochettino and Arteta have never directly locked horns in the dugout, but they are close friends away from the pitch after becoming acquainted during their playing days.

In the summer of 2001, both players made switches from Spanish football to sign for Paris Saint-Germain, Arteta on loan from Barcelona and Pochettino on a permanent deal from Espanyol.

As a result, the pair spent time living in the same hotel room prior to finding houses for the remainder of their respective stays in the French capital.

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Arteta spent a total of 18 months at Parc des Princes, making 53 appearances, while Pochettino departed during the second half of 2023 having racked up 95 outings.

In the build-up to the showdown in West London, Arteta has revealed that he values Pochettino as "a role model", both during his time as a player and manager.

Pochettino was naturally quizzed on his experience of Arteta at a press conference on Friday, going on to tip the 41-year-old to become one of "the greatest managers in the world".

Speaking to reporters, Pochettino said: "Amazing memories. I think that when you connect with a person like him, we share the values and the passion of football. I can tell you that he is part of my family.

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"From day one when he arrived at Paris, we arrive together, we spent time together with our families also, in the first few months at hotel and then we live very close.

"We have an amazing history. For me, it is no surprise what he is doing because he was already coach at 17 when I knew him. Trust me, he was really, really good. His judgement and how he sees football. It does not surprise me that he is great.

"He is still really young, improving day by day, and he can become one of the greatest managers in the world."

Chelsea head into the game sitting nine points adrift of Arsenal, who are unbeaten in eight Premier League games in 2023-24 and have prevailed in this fixture on the last three occasions.