Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta picks his dream five-a-side team which includes NO goalkeepers or defenders with Lionel Messi his ‘number one choice’ in a line-up full of attackers

• Mikel Arteta has picked a team loaded with attacking talents for his five-a-side 
• He said he would only pick a goalkeeper if he was given an extra player
• Trent and Bellingham can play together but can’t get in each other’s way – IAKO

Mikel Arteta has picked a team loaded with attacking talent, and without a single goalkeeper or defender, for his dream five-a-side team.

The Arsenal manager picked five of the greatest players of all time in his team, which even without a goalkeeper would be near unstoppable.

Revealing his team to Planet Football, Arteta revealed that his number one choice in his team would be Lionel Messi. 

Arteta played for Barcelona’s B team before leaving for Rangers in 2002, meaning he just missed out on playing alongside Messi – who played for the Spanish side’s second outfit for the first time in the 2003-04 season. 

The Spaniard said: ‘The No.1 and I didn’t play with him or manage, it would have to be Leo Messi.

Mikel Arteta has picked a team full of attacking legends for his dream five-a-side team

Arteta chose Lionel Messi as his ‘number one’ option for the team describing the Argentina legend as the ‘most influential player ever in the history of football’

 Cristiano Ronaldo (left) was the only player not to ever feature for Barcelona to make the team while Diego Maradona (right) was the last player to make Arteta’s star-studded line-up

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‘That’s for sure because he’s been in my opinion the most influential player ever in the history of football. We’ve never seen someone do what he has done on the pitch for that many years.’

His next two choices were Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as namesake Ronaldo Nazario, insisting he was ‘in love’ with the Brazil icon growing up thanks to his days playing for Barcelona.

Though that would be enough attacking talent for most five-a-side teams, Arteta instead to complete his five with two more attacking greats in the form of Johan Cruyff and Diego Maradona.

Cruyff and Maradona also played for Barcelona during their iconic careers, meaning Cristiano Ronaldo – who played for rivals Real Madrid – was the only player not to feature for the Catalan side who made Arteta’s team.

He chose Cruyff because of his ‘intelligence,’ while rounded his line-up with Maradona because of his ‘Argentinian origin’ and his wife who is also from the country. 

Though there was no defenders or goalkeepers, Arteta did pick someone who he played alongside in the Barcelona youth ranks as his choice between the sticks if he was allowed a sixth player.  

He said: ‘If it’s six-a-side then I have to go for a friend, Pepe Reina. I’ve played with him since I was 16 years old in Barcelona and now, last week, he became the Spanish player with the most European caps in our history. He’s 41 and still playing. An amazing career.’

Arteta’s childhood idol Ronaldo Nazario (right with Sir Bobby Robson) made the five-a-side team

Legendary Barcelona player and manager Johan Cryuff also made Arteta’s line-up

Arteta said his former Barcelona youth academy team-mate Pepe Reina (right playing for Villarreal) would be his choice of goalkeeper if he was allowed to name six players in his team 

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