Carlos Cuesta makes Mikel Arteta feelings clear in parting message before Arsenal exit

Arsenal and Mikel Arteta will see a change to the club’s backroom team as Carlos Cuesta departs the Emirates for Italy as he is expected to take the head coach role at Parma

Arsenal coach Carlos Cuesta has sent a touching message to Mikel Arteta as he prepares to take on his first role in management at Parma. Cuesta is expected to be named Parma’s head coach after Cristian Chivu left for Inter Milan.

The 29-year-old appears to have confirmed his departure by paying tribute to Gunners boss Arteta and crediting the Spaniard with playing a crucial role in his journey. Cuesta joined Arsenal in 2020 from Juventus and has drawn interest as a trusted lieutenant of Arteta in that time.

The Arsenal assistant started his coaching career at just 18 at Atletico Madrid and will now become the youngest boss in Europe’s top five leagues. Arteta said last year that he would not stand in Cuesta’s way should he want to depart.

Cuesta only signed a contract extension in April. The Spanish coach committed until 2027 alongside four other members of coaching staff.

But now, the coach is set to see how his ability improving the tactical understanding of Arsenal’s stars translates to earning results in Serie A. And Cuesta felt compelled to express his thanks to Arteta for everything he has learned from him.

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“And then, to the person that made it happen. Thank you. That’s the only thing I can say,” Cuesta posted on Instagram with a photograph of Arteta and himself.

“Thank you for your trust, for giving me the opportunity to be next to you and for showing me with constant facts which is the meaning of the word ‘courage’.

“But more than that, thank you for being an incredible coach, an incredible leader, and an even better human being. It has been a true privilege to learn from you, to feel your support in any circumstance and to share the ups and downs of the journey always seeing the positive side of it.

“You’ve taught me a lot, and I will carry it always with me. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

Arteta has previously noted that members of his staff would always depart with his blessing. “If that’s the will?” Arteta said.

“You cannot do that. I wouldn’t, no. With the staff as well, everybody needs to feel there is a path, there is a development plan for everyone. People don’t want to do the same thing for three, four, five years. It is a way to incentivise and inspire other people and then to explore because you don’t really know the limit of a person unless you expose him to certain things.”

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