A new book has ‘revealed’ some ‘new’ revelations regarding Mikel Arteta, Newcastle United and Mike Ashley.

The Telegraph reporting: ‘Mikel Arteta came close to joining Newcastle before Arsenal. In extracts from his new book, Sam Dean reveals Spaniard’s interest in accepting Mike Ashley’s offer in summer of 2019.’

This was the part of the disgraceful and shambolic Mike Ashley era when the then Newcastle United owner forced out Rafa Benitez who had worked wonders at the club.

However, Mike Ashley had massively undermined the Spaniard and refused to honour the promises he had made to the then United manager after Rafa had brought Newcastle straight back to the Premier League after Ashley’s second NUFC relegation in eight Premier League seasons of his ownership.

Mike Ashley frustrated as he wanted to reverse the promise he had made whereby Rafa Benitez would have the final say on which players were signed and sold. Ashley wanting a puppet who was so desperate to take the job that he would agree to whatever conditions, which is how Newcastle United fans ended up with the nightmare of Steve Bruce coming into our club.

Moving back to the present day, The Telegraph journalist claims to have now revealed that Mikel Arteta was considering joining Newcastle United in 2019, but this was first revealed by Sky Sports over seven years ago.

When Mike Ashley forced Rafa Benitez out of Newcastle United at the end of June 2019, a number of candidates were approached by Ashley, by those working on his behalf.

Keith Downie has covered Newcastle United for Sky Sports across many years and in early July 2019 he stated that his information was that the first four to be approached to take the NUFC job were Steven Gerrard, Patrick Vieira, Roberto Martinez and Mikel Arteta.

Embarrassingly, Sam Allardyce then on 11 July 2019 revealed that he also had been asked to work (again) for Mike Ashley but he’d made it five to turn down the then Newcastle United owner.

Keith Downie then reported that same day (11 July 2019) that Mike Ashley had at last found somebody desperate enough to take the Newcastle United job under Ashley, Downie naming Steve Bruce as the imminent appointment.

It had been reported that the previous day (10 July 2019) discussions had taken place between Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle United regarding the level of compensation to be paid. This followed a meeting Lee Charnley had with Steve Bruce in Manchester on the Wednesday to discus personal terms and the job itself.

It is still staggering to think that Mike Ashley was so desperate to employ a puppet, he was willing to force the excellent Rafa Benitez out of St James’ Park and then pay millions in compensation to lower league club Sheffield Wednesday to get Steve Bruce.

On 16 February 2020, Mikel Arteta took charge of his ninth Premier League Arsenal match.

It was a thumping 4-0 win for Arsenal against a Newcastle United team ‘guided’ by Steve Bruce. That hammering by the Gunners came during a ten match Premier League run for Bruce where Newcastle United won only one of their ten EPL games across two and a half months.

Ahead of that 4-0 Arsenal victory in February 2020, Mikel Arteta confirmed the Sky Sports reporting seven months earlier,, the now Gunners boss stating that he had indeed been offered the Newcastle United job, only to knock back the chance to work under Mike Ashley.

Mikel Arteta stating back on 14 February 2020: “I was considering a situation at Newcastle United (in July 2019) that could change my professional and personal life. I had to put everything on the table to make that decision. I made the decision to stay where I was (at Manchester City) at the time. I believe that Newcastle are happy. What Steve (Bruce) has brought to the club has been really, really good. The performances and results, compared to where they were last year, they are above any expectation. He has put together a team with great spirit and is a manager with massive, massive experience.”

Amusing as well to look back also at what Mikel Arteta is claiming was the case with Steve Bruce taking over from Rafa Benitez.

Mike Ashley finally allowed Rafa Benitez to make a ‘big’ money signing, Miguel Almiron arriving at the end of January 2019 (only five months before Ashley forced Rafa out). In his final 16 Premier League matches with Newcastle United, Rafa Benitez won eight, drew three and lost only five, those final 16 games saw Rafa have United in top five form and also top five when it came to scoring goals.