Arsenal fans are starting to get excited about the prospect of Mikel Arteta's potential arrival.
The former Gunners captain is certainly lacking in managerial experience, but his time served as assistant manager to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City offers an intriguing opportunity.
While it is currently unclear who would be on Arteta's staff should he take over given that it would be his first appointment as a manager, football.london understand that the club wish to retain Freddie Ljungberg as an assistant head coach.
Another rumoured possibility is former Liverpool and Real Madrid star Xabi Alonso, who has been friends with Arteta since their childhood.
Alonso and Arteta were neighbours on the same street in San Sebastian, and played football together at Spanish amateur club Antiguoko, a feeder side for Real Sociedad.
As their careers progressed, they lived near each other again when Alonso was at Liverpool and Arteta at Everton.
World Cup winner Alonso completed his UEFA Elite coaching course in 2018 and began coaching the Real Madrid Under-14s side.
Since then, he has become manager of Real Sociedad B in Segunda Division B.
"I follow [Arteta] very closely, because we have kept in touch forever," Alonso previously told Arsenal's YouTube channel.
"When he moved from Everton to Arsenal, I wanted to know how it works there in Arsenal, and he's enjoying it so far."
Arteta, meanwhile, spoke glowingly of the example Alonso sets.
"I'm proud that he's coming from the same city, and he's taken that name as well when he's been at Liverpool or Real Madrid or Bayern Munich because he's been successful everywhere," Arteta stated.
"The way he committed himself, the way he behaves, I think he’s a great example for every kid trying to be a footballer."
Arsenal fans are excited about what a coaching team of Arteta and Alonso - two formerly top quality midfielders - could provide in north London, particularly for one star who has come under heavy criticism.
