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Mikel Arteta is in and Mesut Ozil is out at Arsenal
Spaniard Arteta is set to be unveiled as the new Gunners boss
Mikel Arteta will be unveiled as Arsenal’s new manager in the coming 24 hours, claims the Daily Mirror, and the Spaniard is set to be in charge of the Gunners when they play Everton on Saturday.
The paper is one of several to claim that the 37-year-old Manchester City assistant coach has “agreed terms” to replace Unai Emery in the Emirates hot seat.
It’s reported that Arteta is poised to sign a three-and-a-half year contract after what the Mirror describes as “extensive negotiations in the past 48 hours”.
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Club director Josh Kroenke, son of owner Stan Kroenke, led the talks and he has now returned to the United States “with the process effectively done”.
Oxford and out
According to reports, Arteta will travel to Oxford today with the Man City squad to sit in the dugout alongside Pep Guardiola as the Sky Blues look to win their Carabao Cup quarter-final.
The official announcement will be made either tonight or tomorrow, allowing Arteta the time to take charge of Arsenal ahead of Saturday’s trip to Goodison Park.
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Guardiola confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday that his No.2 has been in negotiations with the north London club.
“He’s talking with Arsenal so I don’t know what is going to happen,” said City boss Guardiola.
“I knew about the meeting. He was incredibly honest and transparent with me. He knows exactly what we want, what we’d like, but at the end it’s his decision.”
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Backroom raid
As to who Arteta might bring with him to the Emirates, the Daily Mail says that he is “keen” on another of Guardiola’s backroom staff, Spanish coach Rodolfo Borrell.
Furthermore, the Mail claims that the Gunners are also primed to poach talent-spotter Sam Fagbemi from the Etihad.
The loss of so many of their backroom staff “will be a worry for City”, says the Mail, and raise speculation that the sands of time may be running down on Guardiola’s own City career.
The 25-year-old Fagbemi is described by the Mail as a “highly-rated scout” and one that City don’t want to lose. In recent seasons he has been responsible for bringing a number of talented youngsters to the Etihad, including 16-year-old Josh Wilson-Eshbrand from West Ham and 17-year-old Ipswich star Ben Knight.
Arsenal have offered Fagbemi “a stronger grip on their youth recruitment approach in an effort to persuade him to leave City”, and their offer appears to have worked.
The Daily Express adds that the Gunners are also hoping to secure the services of another scout, Wolves’s Phil Antwi, although negotiations have yet to begin.
(Image credit: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
The end for Ozil?
One headache Arteta won’t have is how does he solve a problem like Mesut Ozil?
That’s because reports from Turkey claim that Fenerbahce are “in the closing stages of finalising a move for the German”.
It’s not the first time that the Turkish club have been linked to Ozil but the latest gossip appears to be watertight and explains that Fenerbahce, Arsenal and Ozil have reached a deal after lengthy negotiations.
It’s believed the 31-year-old will be loaned out first before a permanent move is completed next summer.
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