One of the first players Arteta took under his wing was Pochettino, who has since described the Spaniard as his ‘big brother’ and ‘football dad’.

The Argentine, ten years his senior, also arrived in January 2001 after leaving La Liga side Espanyol and bonded with his new teammate as they shared a hotel for the first three months of their stay in Paris.

Arteta’s leadership qualities were evident from the start, according to Pochettino.

“He was already a coach,” he said in 2023 about his former PSG colleague. “He gave me and the others advice. (I would) say ‘wow!’ – the character, the personality, the charisma. He already had the football brain.”

Arteta was tasked by manager Luis Fernandez – who had already tried to sign the teenager when he was in charge of Athletic Bilbao – to orchestrate play from a deep-lying midfield position, a role he fulfilled with a confidence and maturity that belied his age .

“Fernandez asked him to play simply and provide a platform for more creative talents like Okocha, and he did that brilliantly,” French football expert Matt Spiro told BBC Sport.

“Arteta was a quiet man, but already showed the iron determination that we see in him today. Like most Barcelona players, he was technically excellent, but the most surprising and impressive aspect of his game, given his age, was his tactical acumen.”

Arteta made eleven appearances before the end of the season, scoring his first PSG goal in a 2–2 draw against Lille on the penultimate weekend of the season. However, despite his good start, Fernandez’s side ended that term on an unfavorable note.

After losing 4–0 to Auxerre in the fourth round of the French Cup – Arteta’s debut for the club – they finished bottom of their group in the second round of the Champions League, only reaching just a place in the top half.

But better times were ahead.