Arsenal has narrowed the list of replacements to take job vacated by Unai Emery, and reportedly the most favored of the lot is former Gunners Mikel Arteta. Presently serving as assistant to Pep Guardiola, Arteta is said to be all set to accept in case the role is offered to him by the Arsenal board.
"The Spaniard would now accept an offer should Arsenal make one," Metro reported, adding Arteta appeared to have already secured the blessing from Guardiola to make the move.
It was suggested in the same report that Arteta while on consideration to step in if Guardiola exits as Manchester City manager, he is not on top of the probable choices for a permanent replacement. Supposedly, the realization made easier for Arteta to grab the opportunity of managing a club in his own right.
Originally, the former Gunners midfielder was to replace Arsene Wenger in 2018 but the Arsenal hierarchy opted for experience at that time and went for Emery. It seemed that now the club is ready to put its trust in Arteta.
"Sections of Arsenal's board... believe the landscape now is more suitable for the 37-year-old to take his first steps into management," the same report said.
As for Guardiola's willingness to let his assistant handle the top post in a different team, he reiterated his earlier stance that he will no block a better opportunity coming on the way of his compatriot. The Catalan said Arteta is ready to take on the job from Arsenal.
"I've spoken about the situation a few weeks ago, there's no more to add. I said two weeks ago, he's got two weeks more experience, so he's ready," the City boss said, per the report from Mirror.
"You can be a 45-year-old and believe you're not ready (to become a manager) and 35 and believe you're ready, only he knows," he added.
Meanwhile, football analyst Guillem Balague gave his vote of confidence to Arteta, saying his fellow Spaniard has the managerial experience to lead Arsenal. The pundit said Arteta has been with City for several seasons and that should count for a top-notch experience.
"When he first came to City, the club weren't sure about what he could do. But since then he's improved Leroy Sané, he's helped improved Raheem Sterling - he's got his own office in the training ground where he sits down and watches videos to understand the game," Balague was reported by FourFourTwo as saying.
Balague added Arteta has certainly learned a great deal in four years of working with City and with Guardiola and "he's been growing into the role."
