This archive report was first published on 1 December 2019.
December 1, 2019
Arsenal's search for a new manager has reportedly narrowed down to Mikel Arteta, the Manchester City assistant who was previously favourite for the job in 2018.
According to reports, Arteta is keen on the move and has the backing of the Gunners' hierarchy, who are seeking to replace one Spanish boss with another.
Arteta came close to succeeding Arsene Wenger in 2018 but was blocked by former Gunners' chief executive Ivan Gazidis, who cast the deciding vote in favour of Unai Emery.
However, it appears that Gazidis' influence may not be as significant this time around, with Pep Guardiola, Arteta's current boss at Manchester City, open to the idea of Arteta furthering his career in frontline management.
Guardiola has an ideal replacement waiting in the wings, former Gunner Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who has been working for the City Group since the summer and is spending increasingly more time at the Etihad.
Van Bronckhorst, who won five trophies in his own right during a four-year spell at Feyenoord, is highly regarded by Manchester City and has been linked with the job with New York City before Patrick Vieira was installed.
However, Arsenal's hopes of landing Arteta may be dashed by Bayern Munich, who have lined up Ajax's manager Erik ten Hag as their new man.
Ten Hag's impressive run to the semi-finals of the Champions League last season with a youthful side has made him a highly sought-after candidate, and his fluency in German and two-year stint with Bayern's reserve team make him an ideal candidate for the Bavarian club.
