According to reputable journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Manchester City assistant Mikel Arteta is set to leave the club today upon his appointment as Arsenal’s new head coach.
The 37-year-old Spaniard will not travel with Manchester City for the Citizens Football League Cup match tonight against Oxford as reports originally suggested.
While it initially appeared the deal for Arteta was agreed to on Monday, NBC Sports indicates that all parties had yet to come to an agreement.
When asked about Arteta’s future, Manchester City boss Guardiola suggested that a final deal was imminent. “Yes, I think so. It’s going to happen quick. I don’t know. On next hours we travel to Oxford, so I don’t know.”
Arteta’s Arsenal will face Everton in his first game in charge
Arsenal’s correspondent for Goal Charles Watts says the proposed deal with last until 2023.
Should the Gunners make the official announcement today, Arteta will have just a couple days to prepare the club for the match against another one of Arteta’s former clubs, Everton, on Saturday.
Former Gunner boss Arsene Wenger chimed in on the speculation over Arteta’s appointment, saying “Look I am an Arsenal supporter, I said that in my last speech. 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.”
Interim boss Freddie Ljungberg has tried his best to prevent Arsenal from sinking down the Premier League table. But the team has still only one match in the last 12 games and sit in the 9th place.
It seems all Arteta needs to do for the remainder of this season is establish team cohesion, implement a proper system, and lead Arsenal back into a respectable position in the Premier League. The expectation for next season will be a top-four finish and a return to Champions League.
