Mikel Arteta explains the Johan Cruyff philosophy that's inspiring Arsenal's success

Mikel Arteta says that the Barcelona team managed by Johan Cruyff he grew up watching in Spain is still has an impact on his own career at Arsenal.

The Gunners' boss' first steps into the profession came in the late 1990s as a teenager, quickly rising through Barca's academy. He had been inspired to move from San Sebastian in the Basque Country at such a young age after watching in awe of the Dutch player-turned-coach's time at the helm of the club.

Cruyff — as much a legend now as he was back then — was synonymous with the 'Total Football' style, and not only did it look good, it was successful in implementation. During his eight years managing in La Liga he won 11 trophies overall, including four consecutive league titles and one Champions League.

On his quest to replicate such success in North London in the present day, Arteta was asked in a recent interview with Stadium Astro: «The Barcelona DNA, Johan Cruyff and his philosophy, does that have an impact on you now?»

«He had since I was six years old — I fell in love with that team,» he replied. «Johan, Pep [Guardiola] was a part of that team, then at 14 I had the chance to go to Barcelona.

»It was my dream, I had the best time of my life, I always say, since I was 14 'til 17 over there, to make the next, most difficult step in the professional career.

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«From there I started to fly to different parts of the world, different clubs and enjoy this incredible job that we have.»

Arteta may have signed for La Blaugrana a year after Cruyff's departure, though the foundations had been set by the