GABRIEL JESUS claims Mikel Arteta is already a “fantastic manager”.
The Spaniard continues to be linked with Arsenal as they hunt Unai Emery’s replacement.
Gabriel Jesus has enjoyed playing under Pep Guardiola and Mikel ArtetaCredit: REUTERS
After leaving the Emirates in 2016, Arteta has spent 3½ years doing his apprenticeship under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
And the Gunners will get a close-up view of their former midfielder when he helps try to plot their downfall tomorrow.
Arteta is a key part of Guardiola’s backroom staff — and City hope he will stay at least until the end of the season as he has been a vital component in their record-breaking spell.
He tends to specialise in one-to-one work, allowing Guardiola to focus on other things. And Arteta often takes players back to his office for presentations about how they can improve.
Brazilian striker Jesus revealed: “He’s helped a lot of players. When I want to do finishing after training, I tell him and he comes and helps me.
“So he is really fantastic for us. All the players know that — everyone knows that in the club. He is a fantastic guy and fantastic manager.”
Arteta, 37, has not given much away about his career plans amid links to Arsenal and another former club — Everton.
Jesus said: “I don’t honestly know what he thinks about his career, that is for him. I hope he can find his way and I hope he can be happy.”
Spanish defender Eric Garcia has spotted how Arteta seems to have similar views to Guardiola.
The rookie centre-back, 18, said: “They are together as they have the same idea about how to play football. For me, that is the best way to play.”
Guardiola is on record as saying he believes Arteta is ready to become a boss — but hopes he puts ambitions on hold, for a few months at least.
The Etihad chief said: “‘You can be a 45-year-old and believe you’re not ready to be a manager and 35 and believe you’re ready. Only he knows. I’ve spoken about the situation a few weeks ago and there’s no more to add. He’s ready.”
No doubt Pep will be leaning heavily on Arteta at the Emirates tomorrow — just as he did the first time he faced the Gunners.
Back then Guardiola decided that his fellow Spaniard would take charge of that Etihad clash.
The City chief believed his coach’s inside knowledge of the opposition, where he spent five years as a player, would be crucial.
And so it proved as City ran out 2-1 winners.
Now Pep must find a way to beat another former Gunners star — interim boss Freddie Ljungberg.
Guardiola said: “The club decided on a person who had a long time at the club. He knows the fans, the way they like to play.
“He got a good result against West Ham so we’ll see. We need to watch the way they play with Ljungberg and try to figure out what they’ll do.”
Meanwhile, ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich chief Guardiola explained why City’s players missed the club’s Christmas party on Thursday night.
The manager was unhappy with his players for staying out too late at last year’s event and felt it affected their displays during the festive season.
This time they were not invited to the function at city centre venue Bauer Millett on Thursday night.
The manager explained a late return from beating Dinamo Zagreb in the early hours of Thursday, and quick turnaround before their trip to North London, had been factors.
He said: “We played Wednesday and got back late to Manchester.
“We had our regeneration and people were tired. We have a game in two or three days. So myself and the players preferred to be at home with our families.”
Pep Guardiola denies having secret clause in contract that lets him leave and insists he won’t quit Man City this summer
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
