Arsenal are believed to be close to confirming Mikel Arteta as Arsene Wenger’s replacement.
The Spaniard, a former midfielder for the club, is expected to take charge in the coming days having spent the last two seasons working as one of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at Manchester City.
According to a report in the Independent, the only thing still to be finalised is the make-up of the 36-year-old’s backroom staff.
The report points out that, regardless of which manager was chosen, there would still be several long-serving members of staff leaving the club this summer. With the Arsenal board wary of fans questioning the appointment of a man with relatively limited coaching experience when compared to some of the other names linked with the managerial role, they are keen to ensure he is supported by a high-quality coaching team.
Arteta’s appointment could also open the door for Thierry Henry to return to Arsenal. The club’s record goalscorer is currently part of Roberto Martinez’s coaching staff with the Belgian national team having previously worked as a coach under Wenger.
Santi Cazorla, who Arteta knows well from their time as teammates, may also feature as part of the new-look Arsenal coaching set-up. The midfielder appeared on the pitch at The Emirates before the first leg of the Europa League semi-final with Atletico Madrid, seemingly a significant step towards returning from an 18-month spell out injured. Some reports suggested the 33-year-old may agree a player-coaching role in time for the new season.
