TEAM-MATES PAINTED ART AS BOSS
ARSENAL’S players had Mikel Arteta marked down as a future football manager years ago.
The Spanish midfielder was nicknamed “coach” by his Gunners team-mates during his five years at the club between 2011 and 2016 because even then they could see his determination to move into the dugout. But the former Arsenal captain divided opinion in the dressing room and the tag was not necessarily meant to be flattering as some players thought he was too busy and always trying to interfere in management decisions.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has already confirmed he will not stand in Arteta’s way if he wants to leave his coaching staff to become Arsene Wenger’s successor at the Emirates.
And Arsenal want a revised behind-the-scenes set-up to fit around a new “head coach” with Arteta, 36, the leading candidate.
Freddie Ljungberg is expected to return to the club this summer as Under-23s manager to provide a better link between the first team and kids coming through. Current first-team coaches Steve Bould and Jens Lehmann have both been asked to stay, while others – like Gerry Peyton, Boro Primorac and Neil Banfield – are leaving the club.
Mirror Sport also understands that physio Colin Lewin is going and was told the news yesterday morning as part of a reshuffle in the medical staff.