Mikel Arteta takes abuse from mistaken Arsenal fans after appearing to delete all traces of Gunners from Instagram account
Spaniard bombarded with snake emoticons from fans who believed that a verified account belonged to ex-Gunners star
MIKEL ARTETA has been hammered by mistaken Arsenal fans who believed he'd deleted all traces of the club from .
Supporters thought he was in control of a verified account which regularly ripped off his snaps.
And slighted Gunners supporters swamped his new photos with a barrage of abuse and snake emoticons - not realising that the original account was a FAKE.
The Spaniard called time on his playing career at the end of last season and moved away from the Gunners to take his first job in coaching at Manchester City.
And after agreeing to join Pep Guardiola's backroom staff, Arteta has now started an
Arteta has three shots of him coaching in City colours, with the .
Arteta explained: "Welcome everyone to my official account.
"Unfortunately someone else took my name until now.
"That account was deleted and I started a new one here being able to keep the followers... Thank you for your support."
Mistaken Gunners fans had posted.....
However, there were plenty of Gunners quick to tell fellow fans to calm down on Twitter.
After his last game for the Gunners, Arteta previously said: "I am going to leave (it open) by one per cent because in football one per cent is a lot and things can twist very quickly.
"But I have different options now to be related to football which I am very grateful for. It is very unusual to have opportunities at this level.
"As well, that made me think it was probably time (to retire) and the way I have been watching football in the last few months - or probably over a year - it was not as a player, it was more as a coach. Then you have to think about it.
"You have to be honest with yourself. That's why I haven't been upset with the manager (by not playing), I have been upset with myself.
"When you can't get it right and you have been through injuries and difficult moments at this level… for me to play at this club you have to be the best in your position.
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"When you lose that, I think you should be away from this place. I have probably been here too long. In the last few months, I probably didn't deserve to be here but at least I got the chance against Aston Villa to stay in touch with them and it has been amazing.
"For me, the standards you need to play for this club, it cannot be eight out of 10, it has to be 10 out of 10. When you cannot deliver that, it is not good enough.
"Sometimes people get away with it. Inside myself, my gut wasn't clean and when you are like this, I prefer to make the decision myself."