From a tiny club near San Sebastian to the biggest stage in English football – Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso are about to write another chapter in a story that began decades ago.Arsenal host Chelsea at the Emirates today in the first major Premier League derby of the season, but the real intrigue will be on the touchline. For the first time, Arteta and Alonso will face each other as Premier League managers.##NAJAVA_MECA_9936871##The two Basques are almost the same age, with Alonso seven months older, and were born just 24 kilometres apart. Both came through Antiguoko, the small club that has become an unlikely factory of elite football talent.Their playing careers never quite crossed at the club. Alonso left Real Sociedad for Liverpool just as Arteta arrived at Anoeta in the 2004/05 season. They would later face each other in the Merseyside derby, Alonso in red and Arteta in blue."What are the odds of this happening?!" 😍Mikel Arteta on his friendship with Xabi Alonso 🤝 pic.twitter.com/f9IuQbqpct— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 5, 2026 Now they meet again, this time as managers.Antiguoko has produced more than just the two Arsenal and Chelsea bosses. Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola also began there, while the Gunners' midfielder Martin Zubimendi is another recent graduate, joining Alonso as the club's second World Cup winner. Rayo Vallecano coach Inigo Perez is another product of the academy.That makes Sunday's meeting particularly special for the little Basque club.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Around 960 kilometres away in north London, two of its most famous graduates will go head-to-head with three points – and plenty of personal history – at stake.The question is simple: who gets the bragging rights in the first managerial battle between Arteta and Alonso?PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 3FridayIpswich – Liverpool 0-2 (0-2)/Isak 6, 9/SaturdayNewcastle – Bournemouth 2-2 (1-2)/Barnes 37, Ramsey 88 – Tavernier 9, Thiaw 35 og/Brentford – Sunderland 1-1 (0-0)/Janelt 57 – Le Fee 82 pen/Brighton – Leeds 1-1 (0-1)/Vuskovic 71 – Bogle 15/Fulham – Crystal Palace 2-3 (2-1)/King 11, Palacios 42 – Mitchell 35, 54, Chilwell 77/Manchester City – Coventry (1-0)/Haaland 26/Nottingham Forest – Tottenham 0-0Hull City – Aston Villa 0-0Sunday16.00: (3.35) Everton (3.45) Man.Utd. (2.15) 18.30: (1.75) Arsenal (3.60) Chelsea (4.90) ***odds are subject to change***