ARSENE WENGER has dropped a major hint that Mikel Arteta will be Arsenal’s next permanent manager after the sacking of Unai Emery.
Ex-Gunners boss Wenger brought Arteta to Arsenal and recognised his leadership potential by making him captain.
Mikel Arteta seemed to be confirmed as the next Arsenal manager by his former boss at the club Arsene WengerCredit: AFP – Getty
Wenger has backed his former player to have a successful career as manager at the Emirates and his words suggested it is only a matter of time before the Spaniard is unveiled in North London.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “When Arteta will be in charge I will support Arteta.
“He [Arteta] is intelligent, he has passion, he has knowledge, but Ljungberg [does] as well.
“I am an Arsenal supporter and at the moment I support the manager in charge and the manager in charge is Ljungberg.”
Arteta retired from playing after a five-year spell with Arsenal ended in 2016.
His affinity with the club was evident when he gave an emotional interview shortly after his final appearance.
Pep Guardiola brought Arteta into his coaching staff at the Etihad in the summer of 2016, straight after his retirement.
Their close relationship as manager and assistant was reported to be making it hard for Arteta to decide whether to leave City to take the top job at Arsenal, according to Sky Sports.
However, although City are not happy with Arsenal’s approach for Arteta, 37, they are not likely to stand in the way of his desire to be a manager.
City beat Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday and officials travelled north for late-night talks, with Arsenal’s managing director Vinai Venkatesham and the Gunners’ lawyer and contract negotiator Huss Fahmy being spotted outside Arteta’s house around 1.20am.
Arteta spent Tuesday locked in further talks with Arsenal as he edges closer to being confirmed as manager before the Gunners face his former club Everton this weekend.
It is thought the Spaniard told the Arsenal hierarchy his plans for the future of the club and the direction he wants to take them in.
He is now expected to sign a three-and-a-half-year contract worth around £5m-a-year to replaced the axed Unai Emery.
Arteta is likely to be on the City bench tonight for the Carabao Cup quarter-final away at Oxford City before finalising his managerial move.
Mikel Arteta was Arsenal captain under Arsene WengerCredit: AFP – Getty
Wenger added: “I believe that Arteta has certainly a great future, he has certainly learned a lot in his first position as an assistant coach and after that as well he will have to deal with the fact that he has no experience at that level and he will have to get surrounded well.”
Not everyone is thrilled by the imminent arrival of Arteta at Arsenal.
Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can expect a dressing down from the new boss after comments his brother made on social media.
Former striker Paul Merson also slammed the Spaniard’s inexperience and suggested his appointment would be a risky gamble for Arsenal.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
