Mikel Arteta is the runaway favourite to be named the next Arsenal manager as they step up their search for a new permanent boss.
Arsenal managing director, Vinai Venkatesham, and director of football operations, Huss Fahmy, met with Arteta at his home in Manchester on Sunday night.
It came just hours after interim boss Freddie Ljungberg, who is now out to 20/1 to take the reins full time, appealed for clarity on the situation.
“I’m very honoured to do this,” he said after Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. “But Per Mertesacker is academy manager and is having to do two jobs. I’ve told the club that it needs to be cleared up and that they need to make a decision – regardless of what that is.”
Former Juventus boss Max Allegri is still in the frame, but Carlo Ancelotti appears to have fallen out of contention amid reports he is set to take the Everton job.
Earlier this month, former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira said he was "moved" by speculation linking him with the post, but suggestions in recent days he had emerged as the leading candidate now appear premature.
| Mikel Arteta | 1/4 | Man City assistant manager/former Arsenal captain |
| Max Allegri | 3/1 | Unemployed |
| Vitor Pereira | 10/1 | Shanghai SIPG (China) |
| Carlo Ancelotti | 13/1 | Unemployed |
| Eddie Howe | 19/1 | Bournemouth |
| Freddie Ljungberg | 20/1 | Interim Arsenal manager |
| Patrick Vieira | 20/1 | Nice manager/former Arsenal captain |
| Marcelino | 39/1 | Unemployed |
| Mauricio Pochettino | 43/1 | Unemployed |
| Erik ten Hag | 49/1 | Ajax manager |
Odds provided by Betfair, as of 7.30am GMT on Thursday 17 December.
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