Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has refused to rule out the possibility of bringing Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta onto his coaching staff in the future.
Arteta, 34, will not be offered a new contract at the end of the season and is expected to retire after a string of muscular injuries that have limited him to just 15 Premier League appearances over the past two campaigns.
Pep Guardiola has been reported to be considering adding his compatriot to the Manchester City coaching staff when he takes over in the summer whilst Arsene Wenger has also hailed Arteta as a future manager.
However Pochettino’s connections with the Arsenal captain from his playing career - the Argentine captained Arteta at Paris St Germain between 2000 and 2002 - has seen the idea mooted that Spurs could move for a player from the great rival.
Ten classic North London Derbies
And Pochettino did not dismiss the idea of having an Arsenal veteran on his coaching staff, telling reporters: "I love him and he loves me.
"You know our history from Paris St Germain, when he was 17 and I was the captain.
"We have a very good relationship. The thing is rumours and you know I never speak about rumours."
Whether in a coaching or playing role bridging the north London derby is rare, with William Gallas the last player to move directly from Arsenal to Tottenham in 2010.
