Manchester United's move for Mauricio Pochettino keeps the dream alive of a former Arsenal man to one day become Mikel Arteta's successor.

Mikel Arteta is fully entrenched at Arsenal and any sign of a departure is many years away. The Spaniard recently signed a brand new contract which keeps him at the club until at least 2030.

However, there will come a day when Arteta leaves North London to start a new project elsewhere. He has plenty of suitors, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain all understood to be keeping a close watch on Arteta, and any sign he might consider leaving Arsenal one day will be met with interest.

However, when that day comes, who might take over is a fascinating question. Some have always believed that Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira or even Jack Wilshere might have the Arsenal manager job in their futures, but this seems unlikely.

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Henry remains out of management for now, last involved with France in 2024; Vieira is currently the head coach of Senegal but has so far failed to nail down a success story at the top level; while Wilshere is very early in his career right now, honing his craft at League One Luton Town.

Perhaps therefore the most viable option is indeed another former Arsenal player, and captain, and midfielder, all like Arteta. A coach who was linked with the Manchester United job, prior to Mauricio Pochettino emerging as the likely successor but with it believed to be because the man in question wishes to remain in place at his current club.

That man is Cesc Fabregas. The former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea man has been doing excellent things with Como, helping them leap into the UEFA Champions League and impressing many clubs across Europe.

Fabregas is believed to have already turned down an offer to become Inter Milan manager. And he is never one to be drawn on positions at other clubs while other coaches are in place.

"I won't answer, because it seems like a bad question, without respect for a great player and manager like Carrick,” Fabregas said ahead of beating Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League.

No doubt Fabregas is doing great things with Como, but eventually, many foresee him taking a step up. There has even been claims that he has a clause for specific clubs to come and get him, including Arsenal.

"He had an exit clause for top clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona, so it depends on which of these clubs will begin to struggle,” Italian journalist Di Marzio claimed. Everything can change. I think the problem for Como will be finding a new Fabregas, a new coach with his charisma, with his leadership, with his ideas, with his vision.”

Could it be, in time, that Fabregas returns to Arsenal? He made his managerial debut at the Emirates in the summer with Como in a pre-season friendly, and spoke highly of the club, their achievement of becoming champions, and Arteta.

Whether or not all fans have forgiven him for his move to Barcelona, a future role at a club like Arsenal is definitely a possibility, and Manchester United not getting their mitts on him only helps that reality become a stronger possibility.