Arsenal are set to confirm the appointment of Mikel Arteta as their new head coach, weeks after Unai Emery was sacked.
The Gunners have reportedly offered the Spaniard a three-and-a-half year contract, after talks were held with director Josh Kroenke - son of owner Stan - on Monday night.
Kroenke has jetted back to the United States, an indication that the recruitment process is over and Arteta's arrival has been approved by those at the top of the club.
Arteta is set to be in the Manchester City dugout for their Carabao Cup quarter-final at Oxford United on Wednesday night, but an announcement from Arsenal could come once the game is finished, and the 37-year-old is set to take charge of the Gunners for their trip to Everton at the weekend.
Arsenal managing director Vinai Venkatesham, and director of football operations, Huss Fahmy were pictured leaving Arteta’s Manchester home in the early hours of Monday morning, which reportedly left City angered by the lack of contact between the clubs.
But City boss Pep Guardiola said his assistant head coach was transparent with him throughout the process.
“Mikel was honest with me," Guardiola said.
"Arsenal - we were there two days ago. They were talking with our sporting director, the CEO and didn’t say anything.
“I don’t know if the meeting was at one at night because they didn’t want to make it public, but in the end it was public.
“I think Arsenal want to do the best thing possible. Sometimes it’s not easy to handle this kind of situation. We cannot deny that all the clubs around the world make behind the scenes the first contact to try to avoid the clubs that are in charge.
“All I can say from what I’m concerned is that Mikel was clear with me and that’s all. Perhaps there is a problem with the chairmen and the CEOs - they have to talk to each other.”
Arteta's appointment would signal the end of Freddie Ljungberg's interim spell in charge after the sacking of Emery.
The Swede has struggled to turn the club's form around, only winning once in five games, and Guardiola admits the arrival of Arteta may not be enough to be an immediate fix to the current situation.
“I think Arsenal [are] always one of the best teams of the last 20 years,” said the City manager.
“When Arsene (Wenger) took over the team, he raised the club to another level and now they are struggling a little bit the last years.
“When the club takes a decision to replace the manager or buy players it’s always to rise to be better. Whether it's going to happen or not, I don’t know.
“You know my opinion about Mikel. He’s a professional human being and a person, I don’t have doubts about that.”
