Mikel Arteta set to sign new Manchester City deal and is seen as Pep Guardiola’s successor despite Arsenal snub for Unai Emery
Etihad No2 was reportedly called by his boss and chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak and informed of their exciting plan to groom him to take over the Eithad throne
MIKEL ARTETA may have missed out on the Arsenal job - but he is reportedly being lined-up to take over at another Premier League giant.
The former Gunners captain was disappointed to discover that Unai Emery had pipped him in the race to become Arsene Wenger's successor.
But The Mirror claim the 36-year-old's sadness was quickly over after Manchester City informed Pep Guardiola's No2 that he was the man they wanted to replace the Spaniard when he departs the Etihad.
The report states the Cityzens boss and Etihad chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak were the men to inform him he would not be Arsenal's next manager.
However, after consoling him, he was told by the Premier League champions' hierarchy that he was the man lined-up to eventually take over the helm in the North West.
Guardiola has only just signed a new two-year contract after smashing the 100-point barrier to claim his first title in England.
Arteta, who also played for Everton and Rangers, played a huge role in that success.
City are well-aware of his desire to become a manager, but he is now set to be offered a new deal himself to ensure he now remains at the club.
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The lack of experience in the dug-out is believed to have cost him the Gunners job.
Arsenal instead opted for ex-Sevilla, Spartak Moscow, Valencia and Paris Saint-Germain chief Emery have an impressive interview.
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They confirmed his arrival at the Emirates this morning - although the new head coach appeared to jump the gun last night by announcing his own arrival on his website.
A statement from Arsenal said: "Unai Emery is to become our new head coach.
"He joins the club after completing a two-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain, where he recently landed the treble of Ligue 1, Coupe de France and the Coupe de la Ligue."
Meanwhile, Gunners chief Ivan Gazidis added: “Unai has an outstanding track record of success throughout his career.
He has developed some of the best young talent in Europe and plays an exciting, progressive style of football that fits Arsenal perfectly.
"His hard-working and passionate approach and his sense of values on and off the pitch make him the ideal person to take us forward.
"We conducted a confidential, wide-ranging and rigorous search involving extensive background references, data and video analysis, and personal meetings with all the candidates we shortlisted.
"All were interested in the position and we were unanimous in our choice of Unai to drive the next chapter of our history."