Home of football statistics and historyManchester City are resigned to losing assistant coach Mikel Arteta, with Arsenal having opened talks with their former captain regarding their managerial vacancy.
The Gunners have been without a permanent figurehead since getting rid of Unai Emery recently and the hopes placed in interim boss Freddie Ljungberg appear to have waned. Last season’s Europa League finalists had planned to keep Ljungberg in charge until the end of the season, a move that would have allowed them time to engage in a thorough search for a new manager, but results have not been forthcoming and Arteta seems to be the option they’re most keen on now.
Carlo Ancelotti has reportedly agreed to take over at Everton following his sacking as Napoli boss last week, taking himself out of the running for the Arsenal job.
According to football.london, City aren’t happy with Arsenal moving in on their coach but aren’t prepared to stand in his way if current talks come to fruition. However, they’re bent on getting compensated and will ask for £1 million to that effect.
“He’s an incredible person, work ethic, and that’s why he’s with us. He is talking with Arsenal so I don’t know what’s going to happen,” City boss Pep Guardiola told reporters on Tuesday. “Now it happens with Mikel that teams want him. He knows exactly what we would like but at the end the decision is personal.”
Asked if he was in the know where said talks are concerned, the Spanish manager indicated that he was. “Yes, I knew it,” he said.
“The organization of the club is always live, it doesn’t always stay the same, what works today might not work tomorrow. The people today maybe won’t be here tomorrow.
“He’s an adult, he knows exactly what he has to do. He was incredibly transparent and honest with me. Now he is part of our group and he stays here. When we have any new news, I will know it and you will know it.
“Now he’s here and tomorrow he will travel with us. He trained today, he will prepare the training session before the game.”
Arteta was in the City dugout when the reigning Premier League champions smashed Arsenal for a 3-0 result on Sunday, a reverse that seems to have been the final push for the Gunners, who have since decided that Ljungberg isn’t the man to take the London side into 2020.
The Gunners are 2/1 to win their upcoming top-flight outing against Everton this Saturday, with the Toffees 6/5 to take all three points and a draw at 13/5. Fans looking for the best football betting deals would do well to note that freebets.co.uk has all the Premier League free bets from all the bookmakers.
Arsenal are certainly out of the running for the Premier League title this season and are now 2000/1 to win that trophy with Skybet. Liverpool now distant favourites at 1/7 while City have drifted to 6/1.
The top four should be a more realistic aspiration for Arsenal right now and they’re 20/1 to finish above 16 other Premier League sides with Bet365. Chelsea are1/1 with William Hill, given recent form, and Leicester City are thought to be nailed-on certs for the honour at 1/6 with Ladbrokes.
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