Following the defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, Arsenal chiefs have met Mikel Arteta over the vacant role at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal managing director Vinai Venkatesham and chief contract negotiator Huss Fahmy were pictured leaving Artera’s Manchester home in the early hours of Monday morning.
It was learned that the Arsenal officials held a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with the former Gunners captain at his mansion and left at around 1.20am.
Arsenal have been led by interim coach Freddie Ljungberg since Unai Emery was sacked, but results have improved under the Swede. Now the Arsenal board has started making moves to halt a dramatic decline which could see the club missing out on a top-four finish for the fourth season in a row.
Despite the likes of Belgium coach Roberto Martinez, Carlo Ancelotti, and Mauricio Pochettino being considered for the job, Arsenal’s main focus lies with Arteta, who is Pep Guardiola’s assistant, and Patrick Vieira, in charge at Nice.
According to fillers emanating from the club, Arsenal board are looking for someone who knows the club, knows the Premier League and is available to take over immediately.
Arteta, who spent five years at the club, ticks all those boxes and also came close to getting the job in the summer of 2018 before the club decided to appoint Unai Emery instead.
The Spaniard left the Emirates Stadium with the rest of City squad without speaking to the media on Sunday night about his future with City.
According to Sky Sports, City will now ask Arteta to clarify his future with them. Even before the pictures meeting with Venkatesham and Fahmy emerged, City officials are said to have decided to ask Arteta to ‘help them end the Arsenal speculation’.
Other high profile candidates for the job such as Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers who just signed a new deal and Wolves head coach have been ruled out of the running, with Arsenal keen on Arteta.
Report suggests that Arsenal have had difficulty in getting a new manager because prospective candidates are wary over a potential lack of transfer funds to complete the necessary overhaul of the squad.
