Mikel Arteta was previously known as a Pep Guardiola disciple (Picture: Getty)

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Jose Mourinho is among his managerial inspirations and says the former Premier League boss is ‘someone to admire’.

Arteta was asked about Jamie Carragher’s remarks in a press conference on Tuesday after the football pundit compared the Arsenal manager to Mourinho.

Currently in charge of Turkish club Fenerbahce, Mourinho has previously managed three teams in England – Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham.

Mourinho, famous for his defensive style and implementation of a ‘park the bus’ strategy, is among the sport’s most successful active managers.

Asked if Mourinho was an inspiration, Arteta said: ‘For sure, I?ve known him since I was 15-years-old.
‘He coached me at Barcelona. He?s won 26, 28 titles. So he is someone to really admire the way he?s done it, the way he?s changed the culture in clubs, the way he?s done it in different countries.’

Quizzed specifically about Carragher likening him to Mourinho, though, Arteta insisted that he doesn’t want to be compared to any other managers.

Jamie Carragher compared Mikel Arteta to Jose Mourinho (Picture: Getty)

‘I don?t talk about myself,’ Arteta added. ‘That?s his (Carragher’s) job to talk about others, so I let him give his opinion.

‘I take it as an opinion. I don?t like myself being compared to anybody, becaus...