Manchester City’s assistant manager Mikel Arteta set to become Arsenal new manager replacing departed Unai Emery
Manchester City’s assistant manager Mikel Arteta is very close to joining Arsenal Football Club as new manager replacing departed Unai Emery.
Sources indicate that while Premier League champions City were unhappy at a lack of a formal approach for Mikel Arteta, currently an assistant to manager Pep Guardiola, they are very willing to allow the Spanish midfielder to join Arsenal in case they are interested in him.
Arteta played for north London side Arsenal and now it is understood two meetings have taken place and City is unhappy that the London club did not ask for permission to speak to their assistant coach.
Evidence about the former Gunner’s superstar returning to north London as the successor to sacked Gunners boss Unai Emery intensified when pictures emerged of managing director Vinai Venkatesham standing outside his house in the early hours of Monday morning.
Interim manager Freddie Ljungberg currently under the team’s control has only won once in five games since being appointed on 29 November.
The Gunners are ninth in the Premier League, seven points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, after five victories in 17 matches this season.
It is not the first time the former midfielder who made 150 appearances for Arsenal between 2011 and 2016 has been linked for the managerial role.
He was previously anticipated to replace Arsene Wenger at the Emirates in 2018 before the club appointed Unai Emery.
Arteta joined Manchester City coaching staff in July 2016 after retiring as a player and since then he has been working as an assistant to Pep Guardiola.
Meanwhile, he might join Arsenal before City’s weekend fixture. City beat Arsenal 3-0 over the weekend on Sunday.
The defeat left Arsenal as close to the relegation zone as they are the top four and meant interim manager Freddie Ljungberg has won just one of his four league games since the former Gunners midfielder was brought in following Emery’s sacking last month.
Appropriately, Arsenal is on a run of just one win from 12 games and Nicolas Pepe, their club-record signing, said the players had to take the blame for a woeful run of results.
“Us players have to do better quickly,” he said. “We have won only one game out of the last 12. It is not enough, we are Arsenal.
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“It is about us, not the coach or anything else. We have to wake up quickly, starting against Everton,” Pepe stated.
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By John Dalton Kigozi
