Arsenal have got their preferred coach after tough negotiations with champions Manchester City, with Rio world champions Mesut Özil and Shkodran Mustafi signing former professional Mikel Arteta as their new team manager. Artetat had assisted Pep Guardiola at City since 2016.
It follows Unai Emery, who was sacked at the end of November and was temporarily represented by Freddy Ljungberg with 2014 world champion Per Mertesacker as assistant coach. The 37-year-old Basque is contracted until June 2023. Before his City days, the former midfielder had spent five years on the pitch for Arsenal, including as captain. He won the FA Cup with the Londoners in 2014 and 2015.
“It’s a great honour. Arsenal is one of the biggest clubs in the world. We have to fight for the top trophies,” Arteta said, adding: “We all know there is a lot to do. But I’m confident we can do it.’
At City, Arteta worked a lot individually with the stars, including helping national player Leroy Sane after his initial problems in Manchester. Already in his youth at FC Barcelona, a young coach is said to have recognized a coaching talent in him.
Arsenal, who have missed the Champions League in the past three years, are hoping Arteta will return to the Top of the Premier League in the medium term. Currently, the 13-time English champion is only tenth.