'I learned a lot' - Mikel Arteta reveals Jose Luis Mendilibar influence ahead of long-awaited reunion as Arsenal face Olympiacos

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Arsenal play their second match in the UEFA Champions League league phase on Wednesday, October 1, when they host Olympiacos, live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was coached by Olympiacos boss Jose Luis Mendilibar during his youth career and has revealed the influence that he had on him and how both reached the top of the game.

'I learnt a lot from him' - Arteta looking forward to facing childhood coach Mendilibar

Video credit: TNT Sports

When Mikel Arteta and Jose Luis Mendilibar first crossed paths almost 30 years ago, one was starting their career as a professional footballer and one as a coach.

Arteta was aged 14 and playing four times a week in the Athletic Club youth teams. Mendilibar was starting out a coaching career at Athletic that would see him take charge of a number of top-flight Spanish clubs before his current role with Olympiacos.

On Wednesday night, the Basque-born pair will face off as rival managers in the dugouts at the Emirates as Arteta's Arsenal take on Olympiacos in the UEFA Champions League, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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"I really enjoyed my time with him," Arteta tells TNT Sports about his relationship with Mendilibar.

"I really enjoyed my time with him. I learned a lot from him. I really like him as a person. And then following through my career, we have spent some time with each other at some points over those 20 or 25 years, and I’m very happy to see him."

Arteta and Mendilibar might only have come across each other in the youth teams at Athletic, but Mendilibar's approach has had a lasting influence on the Arsenal boss.

Jose Luis Mendilibar will watch his team take on Arsenal on Wednesday night

Image credit: Getty Images

"Especially his character, and how demanding he was with me, and how much belief he had in me when I was a player, and then because I follow his career as a coach as well and what he’s done – I always loved first of all the way he approaches the profession," Arteta said.

"I think he’s a guy that stands for his values, and he’s super direct, and he knows exactly what he wants – and then his teams, to just put the TV on and you know it’s a team that is managed by him."

Arteta and Mendilibar were both born in the Basque Country, which has produced a number of star players as well as high-level managers.

Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Real Madrid’s Xabi Alonso, and former Spain boss Julen Lopetegui are among the Basque coaches to have shone on the big stage recently.

"I think it’s related to the way we live the game, the passion about football," explains Arteta.

"There are some sets of values in our region that are very clear – work ethic is one of those, respect and fighting for what you actually want.

"We are quite stubborn, and when we want something we just go for it and it’s difficult to stop us not getting it. And I think it’s probably a job, a profession that glides really well with that kind of character.

"I think we share something in common which is the passion for the game, and how much there is in and around the area about football and developing culture, developing football players, and there is a lot of history, obviously there is tradition, there is rivalry, which normally what it does is elevates the level and expectations of everybody.

"It’s a good mixture, because there is that, but there is an element as well of pride and understanding that to have two clubs [Athletic and Real Sociedad] at that level is something to be very proud of."

Arsenal will be looking to make it two wins from two in the Champions League league phase after beating Athletic in their opening game.

Highlights: Super subs Martinelli & Trossard make instant impact as Arsenal overcome Athletic Club

Video credit: TNT Sports

They made the semi-finals of the competition last season, losing to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain, and Arteta is hoping the team can go one step further.

"Playing under the lights at the Emirates in the Champions League, it doesn’t get much better," Arteta said.

"We had a great experience last season and created some beautiful moments together and hopefully we can use those experiences to elevate it to a different level because it will require that.

"The team is ready for that, and I am sure the crowd will respond tomorrow."

How to watch Arsenal v Olympiacos

Arsenal v Olympiacos will be live on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and discovery+, with coverage starting at 19:00 BST on Wednesday, October 1.

TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.

You can subscribe to TNT Sports through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

To find out where your local establishments showing TNT Sports are, use our Pub Finder.

For the latest information on which football matches are on TNT Sports, click here.

Here is the TNT Sports schedule and TV guide. And for the full Premier League schedule, click here.

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Stream the Premier League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+

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