Arsenal and Man City in Arteta talks

Visits: 18

Arteta a leading candidate to become Arsenal’s next manager; Arsenal officials pictured leaving Arteta’s home in early hours of Monday morning; Arsenal hierarchy believed to be considering up to 10 candidates

By Kaveh Solhekol

Last Updated: 16/12/19 3:15pm

Mikel Arteta has spent three years working under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City Mikel Arteta has spent three years working under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City

Mikel Arteta has spent three years working under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City

Arsenal officials are in talks with their counterparts at Manchester City over the availability of Mikel Arteta as they search for Unai Emery’s replacement.

Arsenal officials were photographed leaving City assistant boss Arteta’s Manchester home in the early hours of Monday morning with the club expected to appoint a new manager before the end of the month.

Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham leaving Mikel Arteta's Manchester home in the early hours of Monday morning Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham leaving Mikel Arteta's Manchester home in the early hours of Monday morning

Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham leaving Mikel Arteta’s Manchester home in the early hours of Monday morning

Gunners chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and the club’s lawyer Huss Fahmy were photographed leaving Arteta’s home around 1.20am, following a reported two-and-a-half-hour meeting with the leading candidate.

Even before Sunday night’s meeting was revealed, City officials had decided to ask Arteta to help them end three weeks of speculation linking him as the favourite to replace Emery at the Emirates.

Arsenal's lawyer Huss Fahmy is also pictured leaving Arteta's house Arsenal's lawyer Huss Fahmy is also pictured leaving Arteta's house

Arsenal’s lawyer Huss Fahmy is also pictured leaving Arteta’s house

Following the manner of Sunday’s 3-0 defeat by Manchester City, Arsenal have made it clear that action is required to halt a dramatic decline which could see the club missing out on a top-four finish for the fourth season in a row.

The Arsenal board are looking for someone who knows the club, knows the Premier League and is available to take over immediately.

0:58
Arsenal interim head coach Freddie Ljungberg says the managerial situation at the club needs to be resolved

Arsenal interim head coach Freddie Ljungberg says the managerial situation at the club needs to be resolved

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 but has met with Arsenal officials since the game.

2:59
Highlights from Manchester City’s 3-0 win against Arsenal in the Premier League

Highlights from Manchester City’s 3-0 win against Arsenal in the Premier League

Football executives at the club have maintained they will take their time to make sure they appoint the right man.

The Gunners are considering up to 10 candidates including Arteta and another former midfielder Patrick Vieira.

Freddie Ljungberg has been in interim charge since Emery was dismissed 17 days ago, after a 2-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League.

He has been managing the first team on a game-by-game basis but he wants the Arsenal board to make an appointment as soon as possible.

Sky Sports News have approached both Arsenal and Man City for comment following the release of images from Sunday night’s meeting but, so far, neither club has commented.

Soccer Saturday Super 6

FREE TO PLAY: Do not miss your chance to land the £250,000 jackpot for the fifth time this year.

Read More Go To Source