Arsenal board want 37-year-old to be next manager – report

Arsenal manager Unai Emery (Photo: Screengrab)

Arsenal want to appoint Mikel Arteta as their new manager, according to reports in the British media.

The Daily Mirror is reporting that the Gunners board want to bring in the 37-year-old former midfielder as their new boss following the sacking of Unai Emery last month.

The same story says that the former Arsenal star is “keen” on taking over at The Emirates, which would mean leaving his current position as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City.

It is claimed in the same article that Arteta is Arsenal’s “first choice” to take over at the north London club after they opted to part ways with Emery.

The same article recounts how Arsenal actually came close to appointing Arteta back in 2018 but then chief executive Ivan Gazidis intervened as the Gunners settled on Emery as Arsene Wenger’s successor.

According to the same story, Manchester City would be open to letting Arteta go because they have an ideal replacement waiting in the wings, in the shape of another former Arsenal star Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are currently preparing for their home clash against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Thursday night.

The Gunners played out a 2-2 draw with Norwich City in Freddie Ljungberg’s first game in charge as interim boss on Sunday.

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