'The job is like this': Arteta sends message to Gerrard after sack
Speaking ahead of Sunday's clash with Southampton, Mikel Arteta said about Steven Gerrard's sack "I am very sad for him. He was a player I admired. He is a person I have a lot of respect for.
"As a manager he started so well, first at Ibrox with Rangers and then at Aston Villa. But this job is like this I am afraid."
Gerrard was dismissed following Aston Villa's 3-0 away defeat to Fulham on Thursday evening. It was a result that leaves Villa 17th in the Premier League table with just nine points from their first 11 games.
Arteta and Gerrard played against each other in the Premier League on numerous occasions. They also shared a couple of battles on the touchline as managers.
Source: Arsenal FC