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Arteta informs Man City board he wants to leave for Arsenal, may be announced Thursday

Michael Orodare
By Michael Orodare
2 Min Read
Arsenal Arteta

Arsenal target, Mikel Arteta, has told Manchester City’s board that he wants to leave to become the Gunners’ head coach, SkySports in Italy reports.

The City’s assistant manager, it was gathered, will travel with his current employers to Oxford for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final.

Arsenal remain hopeful that Arteta will be their new head coach in time for the visit to Everton on Saturday.

However, it is understood there are still significant hurdles for Arsenal and Manchester City to overcome before Arteta’s move to North London can be confirmed.

The two clubs are yet to begin official negotiations over a compensation deal for Pep Guardiola’s assistant, although it is unlikely that these discussions could scupper Arteta’s move.

City – and in particular Guardiola – are keen for Arteta to stay at the Etihad but realise that the offer from north London to take charge of his former club may prove too enticing to turn down.

A decision on his future could, therefore, arrive as early as Thursday – Guardiola said he believed the decision was going to be “quick” when he was asked about his trusted assistant on Monday.

That included controversial pictures of Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and lawyer Huss Fahmy leaving Arteta’s Manchester home in the early hours of Monday morning, which angered the current Premier League champions.

Arteta has a strong emotional pull to former club Arsenal but is also said to be conscious of the strength of his relationship with Guardiola, who has long-touted Arteta as his potential successor at the Etihad.

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