Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has back Mikel Arteta to become the new manager of the club.
Arteta has agreed a deal to become the next permanent boss of the Gunners and looks set to take charge for the first time against Everton on Sunday.
The Spaniard, who captained the club as a player under Wenger, is set to leave his coaching role with Manchester City for his first role in management.
He is believed to have impressed Arsenal bosses after a series of interviews in recent days, leading to him being handed the job he came close to taking over from Wenger when he left in the summer of 2018.
And experienced Frenchman Wenger says he will support Arteta in the role - as he would with any manager - despite being keen not to delve too deep into the current problems at the club after Unai Emery's sacking.
"Look I am an Arsenal supporter – I said that in my last speech," Wenger told Sky Sports on Wednesday morning.
"At the moment I support the manager in charge, and the manager in charge is [Freddie] Ljungberg.
"When Arteta will be in charge, I will support Arteta.
"For the rest, of course Arsenal is going through a very difficult period so it’s better I don’t comment too much on that and I just suffer like every supporter."
Arteta was identified as a potential future coach by Wenger before he left the Gunners, speaking highly of him as he started his coaching career.
"He has all the qualities to do the job," Wenger said in 2018.
"And I see as well that he’s one of the favourites [to replace me]. He was a leader.
"He has a good passion for the game. He knows what is important to the club. He was captain of the club. So, why not?"
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