Mikel Arteta has agreed to become the next manager of Arsenal with the club hoping he will be in charge for Saturday’s trip to Everton.
Ex-Arsenal captain Arteta will be alongside Pep Guardiola on Manchester City ’s bench for their Carabao Cup tie at Oxford United on Wednesday night.
But Arteta, 37, is now ready to finalise a three-and-a-half year deal at the Emirates after extensive negotiations in the past 48 hours and they want to confirm him after City’s Oxford game.
Arsenal director Josh Kroenke, son of owner Stan Kroenke, has now returned to the United States after the club concluded talks with Arteta with the process effectively done.
Arteta will be allowed to bring in his choice of assistant and it is believed he is keen on another of Guardiola’s backroom staff, Spanish coach Rodolfo Borrell.
It will be a worry for City that losing Arteta may represent the break-up of Guardiola’s staff at the Etihad as doubts circulate about his long term future at the club.
Guardiola has insisted he has no intention of leaving next summer but the club have been linked with former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino as a potential successor.
Former Barcelona boss Guardiola is known for his intense work ethic which is why he has never stayed too long at any of his clubs and, after guiding City to unprecedented success, the club’s fans will be increasingly concerned Arteta’s departure does not have a bigger message.
Arteta was made a promise by City in 2018 that they would make him Guardiola’s successor when he eventually leaves.
But suddenly, Arteta clearly feels that will not happen and that returning to Arsenal is the best move.
