Arsenal have reportedly earmarked former captain Mikel Arteta as the manager of the club when Arsene Wenger eventually calls it a day.
According to a report by The Telegraph, Arsenal have started preparing for life after Arsene Wenger, setting in place the succession plan for the Frenchman. Mikel Arteta is being lined up by the Gunners to eventually take over the reigns at the Emirates once their long-standing manager leaves the club.
Arteta enjoyed a mildly illustrious playing career upon graduating from the fabled La Masia academy at Barcelona. While the Spaniard could never find his feet at the Catalan club, he went on to enjoy successful spells at Rangers and Everton before eventually finishing his career at Arsenal.
At the North London club, Arteta was even entrusted with the responsibility of leading the side for the last two years of his career, although injuries brought an early end to his playing time. Since hanging up his boots, the 35-year-old has taken up the role of assistant manager to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Former captain Mikel Arteta is being mooted as a potential successor to Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, according to @TeleFootball ? pic.twitter.com/DabYiYJ4vP
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 18, 2017
And the fruits of their partnership at the club could soon bear fruit, with the Citizens favourites to win the Premier League title come May. But while Arteta seems to be primed for success at City, he continues to be held in high regard at Arsenal.
The report goes on to suggest that his “success alongside Guardiola has only strengthened the feeling inside the club that he will eventually be the perfect candidate for the job of manager.” With that in mind, Arteta could be offered the job of Arsenal manager when Wenger finally calls it a day.
The Frenchman still has over 18 months left on his deal at the Emirates after signing a two-year extension at the North London club in May. But, there’s a growing belief that this will be his final contract at Arsenal, and that his time to leave appears to be drawing closer.
If Wenger indeed departs in 2019, Arteta could just be stepping in to take over, although it will be interesting to see if he is the right choice for the job, if he indeed takes it up. After all, that will possibly be the first time he will take a managerial post at any club, let alone one that has such an imprint of one person.
Stepping in at Arsenal would indeed be a massive challenge, one that Arteta is likely to take up, as per the report. He is evidently rated quite highly by the Arsenal board as far his managerial pedigree is concerned. For now though, the Gunners continue under Wenger as the 2017-18 gets closer to its midway point.
